Millions attend ‘Asia’s largest Christian gathering’

(February 22, 2010) About 2 million people have attended an eight-day Christian convention in southern India’s Kerala state, billed as the largest gathering of Christians in Asia. The Maramon Convention, organized by the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, ended on Sunday. Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma, supreme head of this reformed Orthodox Church, claimed the convention was a great success. “More than 2 million people attended the convention most days and the venue was always crowded,” he told UCA News. In his final address, the Church leader urged people to witness Christ’s teachings on love, compassion and reconciliation and stressed the need to protect the environment. Christians should not forget that protecting the environment “is part of our spirituality,” he said and added that eco disasters challenge Churches as much as poverty does. “We have a duty to actively involve with the green campaign because our existence coincides with a sustainable environment,” he told the gathering. The Maramon convention began 115 years ago. This year it began on Feb. 14 with a campaign to plant 100,000 saplings near homes and in parishes. Preachers from India and overseas addressed the convention.