Kolencherry Church Issue - His Holiness calls off hunger strike (Updated)
KOLENCHERY:
Update: Mediations and requests by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy helped in alleviating the deteriorating situation in Kolencherry. His request tao seek 15 days time from the Jacobite and Orthodox factions of the Malankara church to resolve their dispute over ownership of two churches at Kolencherry in Ernakulam district was accepted by the Head of our Church. Moreover, if a solution is not found within the given period, court orders would be implemented as per the Chief Minister.
Let us thank God the Almighty for the peaceful ending of the fasting undertaken by H. H. Bava Thirumeny and H.G. Dr. Mathews Mar Severios Metropolitan. Both of them decided to end the fasting by 11.30 p. m. on Sunday 18th September by receiving karikinvellam from H.G. Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (Chengannur) and H. G. Dr. Thomas Mar Athanasios Metropolitan (Kandanad East), the president of the core committee which was entrusted to lead the Upavasa Prarthana Yagnam. Honb’le Chief Minister Sri. Oommen Chandy gave leadership to the discussions which finally culminated in the ending of the fasting. The decision came after Bava Thirumany received a written assurance from the side of the Government that the Court order will be implemented after 15 days.
A last attempt will be made during these 15 days to solve the issue amicably. If no result comes out from these discussions, the Government will implement the court verdict. This decision of the government was written and signed by the Ernakulam District Collector for the Government of Kerala. We received the document by 11 p.m. which was scrutinized by our advocate Sreekumar and the bishops of the church present at Kolenchery. After getting the consent of all, H. H. Bava Thirumeny declared that H. H. is ending the fasting. It was a moment of great joy for the whole Church. So many disputes with the Patriarch’s group have been settled in the past through the mediation of ministers or other representatives of the Government; but no Government had ever before written a document of settlement assuring to implement court orders. So by getting such a written assurance from the Government, the Orthodox Church has got what it was asking for during the last few decades. This is our victory.
HH Baselios Marthoma Paulose II Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan was on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the execution of the recent court verdict near St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Kolenchery along with Holy Synod secretary His Grace Dr. Mathews Mar Severious.
On August 16th 2011 the district court handed control of the parish to Malankara Orthodox church rejecting all pleas and false claims from Jacobite side and declared the parish is an integral part of Malanakara Orthodox church and shall be governed under the 1934 constitution. The parish comes under the Kandanad East diocese.
On August 16th His Grace Dr. Mathews Mar Severious, the Metropolitan of Kandanad east celebrated Holy Qurbana peacefully in the parish. Tensions started on Sunday September 10th when the police blocked the Metropolitan and other priests from entering the parish and celebrating the Holy Qurbana. Police vacated all of our members presented in the church on Sunday and declared section 144 (Prohibitory Order).
An urgent meeting of The Malankara Sabha Working and Managing Committee was held on September 13th and decided to call an urgent meeting of Malankara Syrian Christian Association, which was held on September 15th to discuss the situation and unanimously decided to continue the indefinite fasting until the court order is fully executed.Protest meeting are arranged in all diocese in Kerala under the leadership of Diocesan Metropolitan’s and Diocesan council.
Follow the below link for further videos/details of case .The full video coverage of the events are covered by Georgian TV.
http://www.youtube.com/user/parumalaseminary
This is a crucial time for us. Let’s pray earnestly for the Holy Church, His Holiness Bava Thirumeni, His Grace Severios Thirumeni and Their Graces the Members of the Holy Synod.
Click here to read the explanations statement.