Peace nowhere close as fight worsens between Orthodox-Jacobite factions in Kerala

KOCHI: While reconciliation efforts at the administrative, political and communal levels and court proceedings continue, the Malankara Church dispute, ongoing for almost a century, hit a crescendo yesterday with the dispute morphing into a physical clash. The altercation at the altar of the Piravom church and preventing a cremation in Perumbavoor caused the Orthodox-Jacobite dispute to flare up again.

The dispute over faith in the Malankara Syrian Church led to the division into the Orthodox and Jacobite churches. The Patriarch of Antioch was the spiritual head of the Malankara Church. One faction argued that the Indian Church did not need a foreign head. The other faction adhered to the Antiochian relationship, further intensifying the dispute.

Subsequently, the supporters of Antioch formed the Jacobite Church with headquarters in Puthankurish, Ernakulam, and the supporters of the Indian Patriarch formed the Orthodox Church with headquarters in Devalokam, Kottayam. This was the beginning of conflicts and lawsuits over places of worship, institutions and properties.

From chief ministers to the Prime Minister have attempted mediation in the issue but to no avail. Even after hundreds of petitions, the Supreme Court's order in 2017 was not implemented. The Jacobite faction is resisting the court ruling that came in favour of the Orthodox faction.

The latest dispute and scuffle occurred when an Orthodox priest arrived at St. John's Bethlehem Church in Piravom Piramadam while the Jacobite congregation was conducting worship.

In another case, the dispute arose over the cremation of the body at St. Mary's Church in Odakalli, Perumbavoor. The Jacobite faction did not allow the cremation of M.T. Jacob, who died on July 10. Subsequently, as per the High Court order, the cremation was held on August 7 under police protection.