Kottayam: Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church yesterday turned down participating in the conciliatory meeting convened by the State government over the Jacobite-Malankara stand-off issue. The Kerala government in a bid to solve the stand-off took up conciliatory measures.
Issuing a statement to the government, the Orthodox Church said the measures taken by the government had no legal standing as Supreme Court on 2 July had clearly stated the State and all parties shall abide by its 2017 judgment, which gives them control of around 1,100 churches currently under the control of Jacobite Syrian Church.
Recently, the senior metropolitans of the Jacobite Church claimed that the government’s conciliatory meeting convened by the state government was in accordance with the Supreme Court order and that disputes between the two churches could be resolved only through negotiation and mediation. Following this, the Orthodox Church expressed concern over the government’s conciliatory measures.
After the Supreme Court had slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan’s government for not implementing its 2017 order, the Chief Minister last week told the State assembly that they are committed to implementing the apex court order and would ensure that there would not be any hindrance for believers to offer prayers.