Keep your word, Jacobites tell UDF

KOCHI: With no end in sight to the dispute between the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church over ownership of churches and properties, the Jacobite faction has now accused the UDF government of having deviated from the promises it made during the last Assembly election. “At the time of the polls, the UDF leaders had promised that they would consider our grievances sympathetically. But after coming to power, the leaders have ignored our issues,” Jacobite Church spokesperson Fr Varghese Kallappara said.The latest issue which has irked the Jacobite faction is the attempt by the Orthodox Church to modify the Muvattupuzha Bishop’s House building and the cathedral attached to it. Also, the move to elevate St Mary’s Church, Piravom, to the status of a cathedral has left the Jacobite faction agitated. However, the Muvattupuzha municipality later issued a stop memo which prevented modification work of the building.Jacobite Church Synod secretary Joseph Mar Gregorios said there was an ill-feeling among the members of the community that the political leadership had deviated from its promises.“Catholicos Baselios Thomas I has himself spoken of our total dissatisfaction with the Chief Minister and conveyed it to the UDF MLAs from the Jacobite fold,” Mar Gregorios said.The Jacobite Church claims that the Bishop’s House and the cathedral attached to it belong to them.“The Bishop’s House was captured by the Orthodox faction when Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan, who was with the Jacobite faction, shifted allegiance to the Orthodox faction. Both structures had been constructed during the time of Catholicos Baselios Poulose II, the predecessor of Baselios Thomas I,” Fr Kallappara said. “We do not think it fair that priests and bishops, who left the Jacobite Church, should be enjoying the same privileges which they had when they were with us,” Mar Gregorios Metropolitan said.The prelate alleged that the Orthodox faction was not willing for any kind of compromise. “The Jacobites demand nothing but separate time for worship,” he added.