Jacobite, Orthodox church heads resort to fast

MUVATTUPUZHA: Tension mounted St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church at Kolenchery and St George Chapel, Kottoor, on Sunday with the heads of Jacobite and Orthodox factions resorting to indefinite fast on the road near the chapel.Jacobite Church Catholicos Thomas I who had ended his indefinite fast and prayers in the evening following the declaration of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC, resumed the  fast at 7 pm when the Catholicos of the Orthodox faction resorted to hunger strike and started prayers.Both the Catholicos were supported by strong faithful of respective factions. Tension spread in the area forcing the police to deploy additional personnel in the area. Meanwhile, the district administration invited both the factions for a discussion at the Government Guest House at 10 am on Monday to sort out the issues.Problems arose on Saturday, when Jacobites were denied permission to enter the chapel to offer the evening prayers by the Orthodox Church.  The Orthodox faction demanded the rival group to abide by the district court order.According to the Jacobite Church, in a compromise decision earlier, the Orthodox faction was allowed to offer Holy Mass on two Sundays a month, while the Jacobite Church on the third Sunday. The timings given to both factions were from 6 pm on Saturdays to 6 pm Sundays.  Both the factions continued to follow the decision for a long time. On Saturday, the faithful and priests of Jacobite Church who reached Kottoor Chapel were denied entry. Jacobite Catholicos Thomas I and Metropolitan Mathews Mar Ivanios accompanied by priests and faithful squatted on the road in front of the chapel on Saturday evening and began indefinite fast.  RDO Moniyamma and DySP Tomy Sebastian held discussions with both the factions. But their efforts to bring a compromise were futile, forcing the RDO to declare prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in and around the church and chapel areas for four days in a bid to avoid untoward incidents. Later,  Jacobite Catholicos Thomas I ended the indefinite fast and prayers after conducting a protest meet. He said the Church was meant for worship and not to be kept closed. Immediately after the Jacobites left the scene, the Orthodox Church Catholicos Baselios Poulose II accompanied by four metropolitans, priest and around 300 faithful started an indefinite hunger strike. Soon the Jacobite Catholicos also turned up and resorted to indefinite hunger strike. Police are camping the area.