A day after the Supreme Court of India upheld the 1934 constitution of Malankara Church, Malankara Orthodox Church (Orthodox faction) took over the administration of St Peter's and St Paul's church at Kolenchery. The apex court in an interim order issued in 2016 had allowed the members of both Malankara Orthodox Church and Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (Jacobites) the right to pray until the final order is issued. Only the members of Orthodox faction arrived for prayers on Tuesday.
Jose C Chacko, the chief sexton of the church, opened the church as usual at 5.30am and rang the bell. As per the court's interim order, Jacobites were allotted time for prayers from 5.30am to 8.30am on Tuesday. But none of the members of Jacobite faction turned up. The Orthodox faction offered prayers from 8.30 am.
It is believed that St Peter's and St Paul's church at Kolenchery was constructed in the 7th century. The fight between two factions started way back in 1912 when a priest belonging to the Jacobites faction travelled to Syria and was ordained as a metropolitan by the Patriarch, who is the spiritual head of Syrian Church, in Antioch in Syria. When the Metropolitan returned home, the believers belonging to Orthodox faction didn't allow him to enter the church premises. This kick-started a long lasting fight between two factions and the rift continued till 1958. In 1958, the Supreme Court ordered that the 1934 constitution of Malankara Church would prevail.
Following the Supreme Court verdict, both the Jacobite and Orthodox factions united until 1973. In 1972-73 two priests from the church went to Syria and were ordained as Metropolitans. But the Orthodox faction members, who were majority in the parish, were not ready to accept and admit the authority of the new Metropolitans who belonged to Jacobite faction. This polarised both the groups again. As the tug of war between the two factions resulted in physical violence, the church had to be brought under receiver's rule during 1984-97. In 1998, a district court ordered that the 1934 constitution, which gives an upper hand to the Orthodox faction would prevail. A tense situation prevailed and the government of Kerala closed the church till 2005. In 2005, believers belonging to both the factions gave representation to district collector requesting that the church should be reopened.
In 2005, the church was reopened and both sections were given separate timings for offering their prayers. In 2007, clashes started again between the two factions, forcing the authorities to close down the church. In 2012, Kerala high court issued an order upholding the 1934 constitution. In 2013, the Jacobites approached Supreme Court challenging the order. In an interim order, the apex court allowed both the parties the right to pray until a final verdict is pronounced.
News Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/jacobites-stay-away-from-kolenchery-church/articleshow/59451720.cms
Jose C Chacko, the chief sexton of the church, opened the church as usual at 5.30am and rang the bell. As per the court's interim order, Jacobites were allotted time for prayers from 5.30am to 8.30am on Tuesday. But none of the members of Jacobite faction turned up. The Orthodox faction offered prayers from 8.30 am.
It is believed that St Peter's and St Paul's church at Kolenchery was constructed in the 7th century. The fight between two factions started way back in 1912 when a priest belonging to the Jacobites faction travelled to Syria and was ordained as a metropolitan by the Patriarch, who is the spiritual head of Syrian Church, in Antioch in Syria. When the Metropolitan returned home, the believers belonging to Orthodox faction didn't allow him to enter the church premises. This kick-started a long lasting fight between two factions and the rift continued till 1958. In 1958, the Supreme Court ordered that the 1934 constitution of Malankara Church would prevail.
Following the Supreme Court verdict, both the Jacobite and Orthodox factions united until 1973. In 1972-73 two priests from the church went to Syria and were ordained as Metropolitans. But the Orthodox faction members, who were majority in the parish, were not ready to accept and admit the authority of the new Metropolitans who belonged to Jacobite faction. This polarised both the groups again. As the tug of war between the two factions resulted in physical violence, the church had to be brought under receiver's rule during 1984-97. In 1998, a district court ordered that the 1934 constitution, which gives an upper hand to the Orthodox faction would prevail. A tense situation prevailed and the government of Kerala closed the church till 2005. In 2005, believers belonging to both the factions gave representation to district collector requesting that the church should be reopened.
In 2005, the church was reopened and both sections were given separate timings for offering their prayers. In 2007, clashes started again between the two factions, forcing the authorities to close down the church. In 2012, Kerala high court issued an order upholding the 1934 constitution. In 2013, the Jacobites approached Supreme Court challenging the order. In an interim order, the apex court allowed both the parties the right to pray until a final verdict is pronounced.
News Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/jacobites-stay-away-from-kolenchery-church/articleshow/59451720.cms
No comments:
Post a Comment