Since 1970, the two groups have been locked in a bitter battle over the right to worship and own the Church’s properties.
A disputed parish at Kothamangalam in Ernakulam. (Supplied)
The Orthodox faction of the Malankara Syrian Church in Kerala lashed out at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for allegedly assuring “illegal favours” to its rival, the Jacobites, at an event held in Kochi.
At the event on Sunday, 4 February, Vijayan reportedly assured the government’s help to ensure the well-being of the Jacobite Syrian Church. He had also allegedly said that there were “wolves in sheep’s skin” who were attempting to destroy the peace prevailing in society.
Since 1970, the two groups have been locked in a bitter battle over the right to worship and own the church’s properties.
The feud between the two factions intensified following a 2017 Supreme Court order, granting the Orthodox faction possession of over 1,100 churches and the properties attached to them.
“Instead of resolving the issue by implementing the order of the Supreme Court, the chief minister made deliberate attempts to create more legal hurdles,” the Orthodox church said in a statement on Monday, 5 February.
It said that at a time when there are disputes between two factions, the attempt of the chief minister to win praise by taking part in one faction’s event and assuring illegal favours to them, does not go well with the democratic ethos of the country.
“Instead of taking a neutral stand in the church matter, it’s painful to watch the chief minister becoming the spokesperson of one particular sect. The Orthodox Church has been willing to establish peace in the matter in all the meetings convened by the chief minister till date, but he completely disregarded the Church’s efforts,” the statement said.
The Orthodox Church also demanded that the chief minister make it clear whom he was referring to when he spoke of “wolves in sheep’s skin”.
While the Orthodox faction stuck to their demand that the 2017 Supreme Court order be implemented, the Jacobite faction alleged that the other group was “misinterpreting” the order and “taking over” their churches unethically.
The protests by both groups have often resulted in law and order issues in several parishes in the state.
In 2017, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions filed by the Jacobites seeking a review of the verdict given by the same court on 3 July that year, giving the Orthodox group control of more than 1,100 parishes and churches.
Upholding the 1934 constitution of the Malankara Church, the apex court observed that only the Orthodox faction could control the parishes.
The Supreme Court’s earlier verdicts — in 1958 and 1995 — also favoured the Orthodox faction. But Jacobite church leaders say the court order deprived believers of their places of worship.
“Where else can our people go and offer prayers,” asked Bishop Joseph Mar Gregorios, the Synod Secretary of the Jacobite Church, when contacted by South First in March 2023.
“We welcome the new legislation as it ensures a huge number of devotees the right to worship. How can the Orthodox faction deny us the right to worship? The democratic government must protect the rights of the believers,” he said.
In March 2023, when the LDF government announced that it would enact legislation to end the over-a-century-old conflict between the two factions, the Orthodox group called the move a bid to appease the rival Jacobites.
The Orthodox faction viewed the government’s move as an attempt to reap electoral gains in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
As per the draft legislation, accessed by South First in March 2023, administrative control of the disputed parishes will remain with the Orthodox faction.
But, the law guarentees Jacobites the right to worship in all parishes.
Whenever conflicts over the presence of Jacobites in such parishes occur, district collectors and police superintendents can intervene, and resolve the dispute by holding dialogues with all concerned, the draft Bill said.
In all its rulings, the Supreme Court advised the factions to function together as they have no differences on spiritual matters. But the Jacobites have physically resisted whenever the Orthodox faction used favourable court orders to gain control over disputed churches.
The police and revenue officials deputed to implement the court orders were roughed up, or were abused, whenever the factional fights spilled out onto the streets.
Now, both churches are functioning as parallel entities, threatening each other at regular intervals for allegedly meddling in each other’s affairs.
The court orders have facilitated more money to the orthodox faction. In contrast, the cash-strapped Jacobites now have an additional burden: The liability of waging a losing legal battle in different courts.
Jacobite bishops say the question of coexistence would be applicable only after the Orthodox faction accepted the authority of the Patriarch of Antioch.
(With PTI inputs)
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