The idea of starting a college under the auspices of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in Kerala took concrete shape when His Holiness Paulose Mar Athanasius, the Malankara Metropolitan, submitted an application to the University in 1950 to start a college, and convened a meeting of representatives of the Dioceses of Angamaly, Cochin and Kandanad.

The meeting decided to establish a college and in order to work out the scheme, a committee was constituted with Rev. Fr. Isaac V. Maliyil as convener, Sri. P.J.Varkey as Treasurer, Sri V.P Cheriyan as Secretary and Sri A.P.Varghese as Joint Secretary. The acquisition of 65 acres of land for the college was facilitated by the efforts of Sri. M.P.Varghese as MLA and Mr.E.John Philiphose, the Revenue Minister. After several meetings and consultations, the Mar Athanasius College Association, was constituted in 1953. His Grace Paulose Mar Philaxinose was elected as Chairman,Dr.P.T.Thomas as Vice Chairman, Sri. M.P.Varghese (Ex. M.L.A) as Secretary, Sri. P.J.Varkey as Treasurer and Fr. Isaac V. Maliyil, Sri. Kottalil P. Abraham and Sri. N.M. Chacko as members of the Executive Committee.

Our divine spirit: The holy sepulchre of the Saint His Excellency Yeldo Mar Baselios.
Sanction for starting the college was obtained in 1954, and the college started functioning on 14th July 1955. His Majesty Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia, formally inaugurated the college on October 3, 1956.

The funds for starting the college initially came from the Mar Thoman Cheriya Pally, Kothamangalam and from the generous contribution by the share holders of the Association. A generous contribution from the Emperor of Ethiopia also immensely helped the Association in establishing the college.

The college has grown into one of the most prestigious educational institutions in Kerala. It has now three Ph.D. programms, eight postgraduate courses and fifteen undergraduate courses. It has excellent infrastructure facilities like five-storeyed, fully automated library, ladies hostel, research centers, well-equipped laboratories, computer labs, reprographic center, multimedia studio, non resident students center, audio-visual hall, canteen for staff and students etc.

Mar Athanasius College - Oct 2001

The well wishers of the college believe that the phenomenal growth of the institution is due to the blessings of His Holiness Yeldo Mar Baselios, and of the Patron Saint of the college, His Grace Paulose Mar Athanasius.

Mar Athanasius College - Jan 2003

This institution has grown from strength to strength especially because of the untiring and unstinted efforts of several stalwarts, particularly those of such a dynamic person as Prof. M. P. Varghese who now heads the College Association as Secretary, and Dr.Winny Varghese as the Principal.