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Maramon (Kerala), Feb 10 (IANS) Asia's biggest Christian convention got underway here Sunday with Philipose Mar Chrysostum, senior metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church leading the opening worship. The week-long congregation, called Maramon Convention, is held under the aegis of the Syrian Mar Thoma Church, headquartered at Thiruvalla, 130 km from state capital Thiruvananthapuram. This is the 118th edition of the convention, which got underway here on the river bed of Pampa. It will conclude here Feb 17. Maramon is on the banks of the Pampa river, about 20 km from Thiruvalla. The convention takes place on the river bed under a temporary covered shed made out of coconut leaves, which will seat a lakh people. Prominent leaders like Rev. Philip Mounstephen from Britain, Rev. Walter Altman from Brazil and Rev. Andile M. Mbete from South Africa would deliver special messages. The highlight of this convention is that a record three million believers from various Christian denominations will attend. The convention is managed without any police deployment or volunteers. Each day will have three separate sessions for women and men and a series of prayer and devotional music sessions. The Mar Thoma community has nearly a million believers and for any devout Mar Thomaite, a visit to the convention is a must. The convention would also see Kerala politicians cutting across political parties in attendance.
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