MGJSM (Mor Gregorios Jacobite Students’ Movement) is a spiritual organization of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church for students. MGJSM provides a space for Students to connect with one another, share their beliefs, and build a sense of community. This can be particularly important for students who may feel isolated or marginalised due to their faith in a secular environment. MGJSM can provide a source of guidance and support during the often challenging transition to young adulthood. Also equip students to take an active role in promoting social justice and addressing issues of poverty, inequality, and oppression through acts of service and advocacy are part of our core values. It enables the Students to bridge the gap between faith and academia, encouraging critical thinking and intellectual inquiry within an ecumenical and inter-faith framework. This can help students develop a more nuanced understanding of their faith and its place in the wider world. In short, MGJSM can provide an important space for students to grow in their faith, connect with others, and make a positive impact on their communities and the world.
Empowering students to become transformational leaders, rooted in Christian values and faith, equipped to impact their campuses, communities, and the world.
To inspire and equip students to:
Founded in 1907 as ‘Syrian Students Conference’, the first Student Christian Movement in India. It conducted annual conferences till 1912 regularly. Later on 6 May 1922, a special convention of the Students of the Jacobite Syrian Church was convened at the Cheruthottukunnel St. George Church of Angamaly diocese under the initiative of St. Paulose Mor Athanasius of Aluva and named the organizationin the memory of St. Gregorios Geevarghese of Parumala. Thus 'Mar Gregorios Syrian VidhyarthiSangam' (also called Mar Gregorios Syrian Students Association - M.G.S.S.A) came into existence as the student wing of the Jacobite Syrian Church. This was the first-ever student organization that adopted the name of St. Gregorios of Parumala. The movement gained momentum after this conference and started conducting conferences annually.St. Athanasius nourished the organization into becoming the backbone of the Jacobite Church. By 1950 the movement had nearly 500 units and a total of nearly 20000 members. During this period most of the Church leaders were alumni of MGSSA
In 1960 MGSSA and St. Thomas Syrian Students of Methran faction, as it merged with the Jacobite Church, merged to form Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement (MGOCSM). During this period the Students Movement showed exponential growth and is said to have nearly 700 units and more than 25000 members. But this 'Golden Era' was short term and soon in 1972 both the Churches split apart thus splitting erstwhile MGOCSM. From 1972 the organisation had a shunt growth as most of the units became inactive and many became non-existent. After 1976 the student movement underwent different stages, the name of the movement was changed to SOSMI (Syrian Orthodox Students Movement of India) which flourished in colleges and the school and parish units were abandoned. It had only 25 but strong units nearly 1000 members and current President H. E. Dr. Mor Theophilose Kuriakose Metropolitan, then a priest, was the main activist. In 2002 when the revised Constitution was adopted by the Jacobite Church the name of the student wing was also changed to JASSMI (Jacobite Syrian Students Movement of India).
In the century year of Metropolitan Consecration of St. Athanasius Poulose, the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church held at Puthencruz in the Month of June 2009 decided to change the name of the Organisation to MGJSM (Mor Gregorios Jacobite Syrian Students Movement), in the name of St. Gregorios of Parumala in whose name St. Athanasius started the Students Movement in the church. The Annual Leadership Camp named ‘Lumina’ has been conducted every year since 2011.