Church feud rears its head in Piravom

KOCHI: Unrest is brewing among the Jacobite and Orthodox factions in connection with the conducting of ‘Ezhinmel Qurbana’ and a meeting being organised by the Orthodox faction on Saturday to mark the elevation of St Mary’s Church, Piravom (Valiya Palli), as a cathedral.Metropolitans of the Orthodox faction, at a press conference held here on Thursday, alleged that the Jacobite faction was planning to disrupt the worship by Orthodox faction and the function scheduled to be held in connection with the elevation of the church as a cathedral. The Orthodox faction has  urged the state government to ensure that there would not be any law and order issue. The Jacobite faction on Thursday called a hartal in Piravom and nearby areas.“The St Mary’s Church is completely under the ownership of the Malankara Orthodox Church and it is being administered by a council elected as per the bylaw of the Orthodox Church,” said Metropolitan Thomas Mar Athanasios of the Kandanad East diocese.“The church was elevated as a cathedral on February 2012, as decided by the Synod of the Orthodox Church. The reception to the Catholicos and other metropolitan is being organised to mark the elevation of the church to the higher status,” he said.“The Holy Mass and other functions are scheduled to be held in compliance with the decisions taken at a meeting called by the District Collector on April 12. The representatives of the Jacobite faction who were present at the meeting had also agreed to follow the decisions,” said Yuhanon Mar Milithios of Thrissur Diocese.As per the decisions taken at the meeting, both the Jacobite and Orthodox factions can conduct ‘Ezhinmel Qurbana’ at a pandal specially set up on the premises of the church during the allotted time.“The Orthodox faction is ready for compromises to avoid a law and order situation which may lead to the closure of the church. We do not want the church to remain closed. But the willingness for compromise should not be considered as our weakness. The government should ensure that a law and order situation is created,” the Metropolitans cautioned.