Statement regarding Kolencherry issue: H.G Alexios Mar Eusebius

Blessings to our Chor-Episcopoi & Priests,

I am sure that everyone has become aware of the crisis in Kolenchery and has been informed of the indefinite fast that both His Holiness the Catholicos along with His Grace Mar Severios have undertaken. There is extreme confusion as to why this is happening, and the media has definitely used this opportunity to put the Church in to shame.

This is a decision that has been made by the supreme head of our Church. The primary reason for this decision is that we need to seek a permanent solution for this matter. Every year in particular parishes, tensions rise and our identity is sought to be sabotaged. We have received court verdicts in our favor from both the apex and different lower courts, yet none of them have been able to be executed because of the unwillingness of the other faction to follow the court orders.

In the eyes of the common people, this public strike is against the Gospel Values which every Christian has to uphold. But the issue here is different. This is the struggle for a genuine reason and for truth. This is the struggle to keep the national identity of the Malankara Orthodox Church like other Orthodox Churches in the world. The Government must be willing to recognize our identity as an Autocephalous Church. It is also the struggle to keep the greatest value of Democracy. What we see now is that a clear court verdict is violated by the power of the mob. So it is the struggle of Democracy against Mobocracy.

I urge our Achens to clarify any confusion among the people in this Sunday, but most importantly, please pray and fast for peace in our Church. We must pray especially for His Holiness, all of our Metropolitans, priests, deacons and the faithful members of the Church. Let us all pray for a peaceful settlement in Kolenchery and reveal His Glory.

Your Shepherd in Christ,

Alexios Mar Eusebius

Metropolitan.