History

In the early part of the last century few senior leaders and the Student’s of Chennai (then Madras) Orthodox Church felt the need for an organization to bring together Christian students in various colleges and high schools with a view to deepening their spiritual life and to create a sense of fellowship. Thus the parent organization was formed in 1907 and the first conference was organized on 1st to 3rd January 1908 at Balikamadom School, Tiruvalla, Kerala, since then the Annual Conferences has been a regular feature in this movement.

The Student Movement had progressed and flourished from 1912 to 1960 with a new vigour as St. Thomas Syrian Student’s Movement. The present title of MGOCSM was conferred in the year 1960 and henceforth it has remained the icon and symbol of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Today’s MGOCSM has been incorporated from two student organizations of Malankara Church, namely, St. Thomas Syrian Student’s Movement and Mar Gregorios Syrian Student’s Association.

Even though the student movement started in 1908 and flourished into a full fledged Movement by 1950s, it had to wait another 2 decades to get an office of its own. Today Kottayam Students Centre is the headquarters of the MGOCSM, India. Though the work among the students is the real service at MGOCSM, student centre is the visible symbol of these services. In the beginning, the Student movement had its office at the residences of their respective General Secretaries.

MD Hostel

In 1921, it was the goodness of an elderly couple that initiated the construction of a Student Hostel first and in later years Kottayam Student Centre came into existence. This couple Kollaparambil Mrs. & Mr. Kurien had no children and they donated a 40 cents of land opposite CMS College to L/L.St. H H.Vattaseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius, Malankara Metropolitan to construct a hostel to help the spiritual growth of our students. Even today, in every Holy Qurbana (Holy Eucharist) conducted in the chapel of Kottayam Centre, the celebrant does pray for this donor couple. In 1930 a hostel for students was built by Vattaseril Thirumeni on the donated land at a cost of Rs.17,000/-. He dedicated this hostel in the name of H G. Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius II. Thus this hostel came to be known as Mar Dionysius Hostel or was popularly known as (MD) Hostel. Many great men, of other denominations and castes were inmates of this hostel, including late K.R. Narayanan, President of India.

MGOCSM Student Centre

In 1968 as it was the Diamond Jubilee of MGOCSM our Bombay diocese Metropolitan H. G. Philipose Mar Theophilos requested the Holy Synod of Malankara Orthodox Church to give the MD Hostel to the student movement. H H Baselios Augen I Catholicose graciously handed it over to MGOCSM. Thus MGOCSM constructed its Diamond Jubilee Memorial building in the M D Hostel premises. The foundation stone of the new building’ was laid By H H. Augen Catholicose. His Holiness himself consecrated and inaugurated the new Diamond Jubilee Memorial building complex on 27 Dec. 1973.

Today Kottayam Student Center is the head quarters for MGOCSM Worldwide and under this many Student Centres and Units are successfully operating through out the globe. These Student Centres and Units spread across worldwide helps every Orthodox Student find their true purpose in life through Christ. As the main moto of MGOCSM is to teach who is Christ and to live a life for Christ through Worship, Study and Service.