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 The advent of Orthodox Christians from Malankara (Kerala) to the Gulf began with the development of the Gulf countries. Bahrain at that time was the most developed country in the Gulf and it was the first country to commercially produce Oil in the 1950s. The first Orthodox Church established in the Gulf was St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Bahrain.With the finding of oil in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, people from many countries of the sub-continent started coming to these places in search of job opportunities. Among them were many Orthodox Christians from Kerala, who were employed in Government and Private organizations. They formed prayer groups for their spiritual needs and were frequently visited by the Vicars from St.Mary’s Orthodox Church, Bahrain. St. George Orthodox Church, Abu Dhabi and St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Dubai, were the early congregations to be established in the UAE under the patronage of St.Mary’s Orthodox Church, Bahrain. In 1970, at the time of elevation of St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Dubai as a Parish, a large number of its members lived in Sharjah. Their travel to Dubai for attending the Holy Mass at Women’s Society Hall in Dubai was a great ordeal. So, in the year 1973, a group of the Orthodox Church members from Sharjah formed a Prayer Group, under the patronage of St.Thomas Orthodox Church, Dubai. Prayer meetings were held once in a month, at the residence of those members, under the leadership of the Vicar from Dubai Church. This prayer group was the forerunner for the formation of the present St. Gregorios Orthodox Church in Sharjah.
The administration of the Parish is being conducted by a Managing Committee, elected by the General Body, from among the members, as per the Constitution of the Malanakara Orthodox Church. The tenure of the office is for a period of one year. The Vicar of the Parish is the President of the Managing Committee.The day-to-day admisnistration is carried out by the Hon. Secretary and the Hon.Trustee assisted by the Managing committee members representing various areas of Sharjah. Group Life Insurance Scheme members of the parish In 1999, our parish launched a unique scheme, in assocoiation with the New India Insurance Company, for the welfare of the members. It is the first in the history of the Malanakara Orthodox Church for members of a parish, where accident & natural death coverage Dhs.50, 000.00 and Dhs.25, 000.00 respectively is being given. Centenary Celebration of the Holy Demise of St. Gregorios of Parumala Our Parish celebrated the Centenary of the Holy Demise of our Patron Saint, Parumala Thirumeni from November 1, 2001 to October 31, 2002. As part of the yearlong celebrations various seminars and conventions were conducted in association with the spiritual organizations of the parish. To commemmorate the event, Gold coins depicting the portrait of Parumala Thirumeni was brought-out for the devotees St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Sharjah Celebrates Silver Jubilee (1978 - 2003) St. Gregorios Orthodox Church Sharjah, in commemoration of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations in 2003, is carrying out a number of humanitarian and developmental projects. Shantigram is a Project of the Delhi Diocese, of the Malankara Orthodox Church in India, for community renewal and revival of the multi-religious society of Mandavar village in Haryana, India. The objectives of the project are to establish basic education, community health and economic security for the low-income people of the surrounding villages. St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Sharjah is supporting the project by financing the constructin of the Administratve Block at Shanthigram. Housing Scheme in various parts of Kerala for 25 poor and unpriveileged families are fast nearing completion. His Holiness.Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II will hand over the key to the beneficiaries on August 15, 2003 at Parumala Church. Matrimonial Blessings: Women from 25 poor and underprivileged families will be married-off and the couples will be blessed by His Holiness.Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II on August 15, 2003 at Parumala Church. Self-employment Scheme: Distributing 100 sewing machines for widows and handicapped women, in Commemoration of the Centenary of the Holy Demise of St. Gregorios, our patron Saint. Machines will be distributed on August 15, 2003 at Parumala Church. Charity Activities St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Sharjah, eversince it’s establishment in 1978, has been giving importance to helping the poor and the needy. To quote from the managing committee’s Annual report for the year 1978, “The Parish opened a generous hand towards the fund declared by the Malankara Orthodox Church for the cyclone-hit, poverty-sticken state of Andhra Pradesh in India, during 1978. Collections were were made from members of the Parish and an amount of Indian Rupees 7500.00 was sent to H.G. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios, the Metropolitan in Charge of the relief activities.” A notable event during 1979 was the establishment of a Charity Committee - MGOC Charity Committee, to look after the charity activities of the Parish, a unique among Malankara Orthodox Parishes all over the world. Even today, St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Sharjah stands-out as a great provider for the needy. “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
* Birthday and Wedding anniversary donations - Members contribution during the Birthday and Wedding anniversary * Self-denial fund - Members contibute by fasting during the 50 day lent and contibute an amount towards charity. * Blood donation camps - Conducting blood donation camps among members of the community. * Tin collection - Each household is given a coin-tin for contribution towards charity on a daily basis and collected once in a year. * Education Sponsorship - One can sponsor a deserving student by paying Dhs.100.00 towards the educationl expense for one year. * General donations - General donations received from among the members of the community towards charity.
* Educational assistance : Given for outstanding students from School level to Higher education and to various job-oriented courses. * Marriage assistance : Poor and deserving parents are given aid to meet part of the marriage expense of their daughters. * Housing assistance : Assistance is given for consruction of houses. * General assistance : General assistance given as local aid to people in distress.
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." “ For riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.” “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.” “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Milestones in the History of the Parish
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