Mediation fails, Jacobites shift prayer venue

KOCHI: Despite initially showing some signs of withdrawing from the protest over the ownership of St Paul’s and St Peter’s Church at Kolenchery, the Orthodox and Jacobite Churches decided to continue with the path of agitation. In the talks held by the Kerala Mediation Committee (KMC) and district administration on Thursday, leaders of both the sides put forward more conditions before going for mediation talks.After the mid-day prayers, the Catholicos of Jacobite Church decided to shift the venue of prayer programme to St Peter’s and St Paul’s chapel. He along with other priests and the faithful went to the chapel in a procession at 1.30 pm on Thursday.“The change in the venue does not mean that we are ending the prayer programme. The Catholicos will go ahead with the prayer programme till a solution is evolved,” said Thampu George Thukalan, secretary, Jacobite Syrian Church.The Malankara Association, the highest decision making body of Orthodox Church, met at Kolenchery. It decided to intensify the strike in the days to come. In the reconciliation talks, the representatives of the Orthodox faction laid down new conditions for accepting mediation, sources with the church said.“All the individual churches under the Orthodox Church, will observe fast on Friday. The faithful under Kochi diocese will observe fast at the High Court junction demanding strong action on the part of authorities for executing the court verdict,” E C Alias, PRO, Orthodox Malankara Syrian Church said.Metropolitan Yacob Mar Irvanious will inaugurate the fast at the High Court junction at 10 am. “Women from all the parishes under the Church will come to Kolenchery and take part in the fast,” he said.The Action Council which is to meet on Friday will decide the future course of action, he said.