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MAR ATHANASIUS COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCE,
Kothamangalam, Ernakulam district
'Mar Athanasius Arts & Science College' and 'Mar Athanasius College of Engineering', both situated at Kothamangalam are two major educational institutions established in the name of late St. Athanasious Paulose Valiya Thirumeni. Both of these
institutions are run by "Mar Athanasius College association", a registered charitable society formed in early 1950’s with M P Varghese as its secretary; the major share holder of the association being the Marthoma Cheriapally, Kothamangalam. Another major institution by name 'Mar Athanasius college High School' also functions under the same management at Kothamangalam.
The idea of starting of an Arts and Science College under the auspices of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church first came in the minds of a few responsible members of the Church in mid 20th century. After preliminary discussions, they met His Grace Poulose Mor Athanasious, the then Malankara Metropolitan, at Thrikkunnath Seminary, Alwaye and discussed the matter.
Convinced about the imperative need of the college to help the young people in their education and progress His Grace Poulose Mor Athanasious submitted an application to the University on 20 January 1950 for sanction to start a college. Subsequently on 16 March 1950 His Grace convened a meeting, at Thrikkunnathu Seminary, Alwaye, of the representatives of the Dioceses of Angamali, Kochi and Kandanad and also many of the important members of the Church. The meeting was presided over by His Grace Poulose Mor Athanasious and the proposal to start a college was discussed and it was unanimously resolved. Soon after a committee was constituted with fifty five members with right to co-opt other members. The committee met at Thirkkunnath Seminary on 26 March 1950 and elected Sri. P.J Varkey as Treasurer and Sri. V.P. Cheriyan as Secretary and Sri. A.P. Varghese as Joint secretary.
The committee began its work in Mar Thoma cheriya Palli and Martha Mariyam Valiya Palli, Kothamangalam and Thrikkunnathu Seminary Alwaye. Finding a proper site and preparing a constitution for the management of the college were the primary tasks of the committee. Regarding land, several places in and around Kothamangalam and Piravam were considered. But finally the present site was fixed. The sanction from the University was received in 1951.
The first meeting of the Board of Governors as provided in the constitution was held on August 30, 1953 after the passing away of Mor Athanasious Valiya Thirumeni and elected His Grace Poulose Mar Philexinos (later Catholicos Baselios Paulose II) as Chairman, Dr. P.T. Thomas Palampadam as Vice-Chairman, Sri. P.J. Varkey as Treasurer and Sri. M.P. Varghese as Secretary of the Association and Fr. Issac V. Maliyil and Sri. N.M. Chacko and Sri. Kottalil P. Abraham as members of the Executive Commettee. Finally the college was started on July 14, 1955 with Intermediate classes. The formal inauguration of the College was held by His Majesty Haile Selassie on October 3, 1956.
Prof. M.P. Varghese who joined the College in 1955, assumed charge as Principal in 1963 and continues in his office as Secretary of the Association lending to it the lustre of brilliant administrative ability and profound academic achievement. He lives a life fully dedicated to the noble cause of education. He has been the dynamic force behind the growth and expansion of the two colleges.
MAR ATHANASIUS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (MACE),
Kothamanagalam, Ernakulam district
Mar Athanasius College of Engineering pioneered engineering education in central Kerala in 1961. Managed by Mar Athanasius College Association, aided by the Government of Kerala, the college was first in Asia under Christian Management. It is located near to the Arts & Science college at Kothamangalam, a place widely known as the 'Gateway to the High Ranges'. The college started with a modest intake of 120 students in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering branches and has since witnessed a phenomenal growth having 1400 students on its rolls in the fields of Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics and Computer engineering today. Spread across 24 hectares, the College campus presents breath-taking views of coconut gardens, rubber plantations and arrays of blue mountains marking the horizon. The motto, "Knowledge is Power" rightly describes the aspirations of its founding fathers. It was also the first engineering college to be affiliated to the Mahatma Gandhi University. MACE, as it is popularly known, has grown by leaps and bounds since. It now has six full fledged departments apart from the two auxiliary departments of Mathematics and Humanities & Science. http://www.mace.ac.in
MAR
ATHANASIUS COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL,
Kothamangalam
Mar Athanasius College High School is another major institution run by the 'Mar Athanasius College Association'. It is now one of the major High Schools of Kothamangalam.
MAR ATHANASIUS HIGH SCHOOL,
Nedumbasserry, Athani P.O, Angamali
It was late Mor Gregorius Vayaliparambil who established the Mar Athanasius High School at Nedumbasseery in 1939. This institution started as an English Middle School which later came to be known as 'Mar Athanasius High School' after St Athanasius Valiya Thirumeni. The school, which is an important educational institution in the area is located near to the fNedumbassery Church (St. George's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church)
MAR ATHANASIUS COLLEGE CHAPEL,
Kothamangalam
Along with the establishment of the Mar Athanasius Arts & Science college in 1955, a Chapel was also started inside the college campus and the Holy mass was celebrated on every Sundays regularly. In 2002 a new chapel was constructed outside the campus and was consecrated on June 28th by the Catholicos-designate Mor Deevanasios Thomas (Catholicos Mor Baselios Thomas I). Each of the three altars of the new chapel were named after Mor Athanasius, Mor Baselios and Mor Gregorios. On every Sundays Holy Qurbono is celebrated in this chapel. 25th January being the memorial day of St. Athanasius Valiya Thirumeni, is observed as Mor Athanasius day.
