1895 was the year when the first maramon convention was held and the same was
called as Pentecost Convention (name given by Titus I Metropolitan). It was
conducted for 10 days from 9th March to 18th of March 1895. The first convention was entrusted to The Evangelistic Association. The Pandal could accommodate around 7000 people and the same was made with the help of nearby churches.
The first Maramon Convention was held at the Parapuzha Manalpuram of the River Pamba(the location fell between the Famous Aranmula Temple and the Maramon Church) about one kilometer away from the present venue. It was a ten day event. Deacon Kakkasseri Varghese of Kunnamkulam (7 July 1867 – 4 June 1897) translated the messages from English to Malayalam for the audiences to understand. The initial years of the Maramon Convention took place at different venues. The first Convention was held on the Manalpuram (riverbank) opposite the Aranmula Temple (which is about three kilometres from the present location). The venue then shifted to Parapuzha Kadavu near the Maramon Church. It was then held on the premises of the Maramon Mar Thoma Church for a year before being finally shifted to its present location.
The Kozhencherry Bridge
The Maramon Convention meetings are held on the Maramon side of the river bed of River Pampa. Before the construction of the Kozhencherry Bridge in 1948, people used the ferry services near the Kozhencherry Chanda Kadavu (market) on large Kurruvallams (ferry boats). Preference was given to women, children and priests while men were asked to cross the shallow river waters by foot.
Maramon Convention Choir Initially, had no organized choir. There were no printed song books or mikes. Anjilithanam Varkey Upadeshi (T.J. Varkey Asan 1857-1931) and Angadical Ambalavelil Varughese Upadeshi were the choir leaders. They would sing each line aloud and the congregation repeated after them. Through apt repetition line after line of the songs were taught. Later, Omallur Kozhikunnathu
Achen (Rev. K.M. Mathew 1884- 1944) took over the leadership of the choir. The present organised choir was established during the time of Rev. K.P. Philip (1916-1991). Every day there will be three separate sessions for women and men, besides a series of prayer and devotional music.
The convention, held on the banks of river Pamba, has over the years become the flagship programme of the Thiruvalla-headquartered Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, which claims to have a following of a million. The Mar Thoma Church, which defines itself as apostolic in origin, universal in nature, biblical in faith, evangelical in principle, ecumenical in outlook, oriental in worship, democratic in function, and episcopal in character, has been able to make inroads in the education sector and runs numerous educational institutions.
The origin and growth of this annual get-together for a week can be traced to the great revival movement which gathered momentum along with the reformation in the ancient Syrian Church of Malabar under the leadership of Abraham Malpan.
