3-September-2004
Indian Express, dt. 3-Sep-04
Jacobite Church urges Orthodox faction to withdraw all cases
Friday
September 3 2004
10:30
IST
KOTTAYAM: The
Jacobite
Church
has urged the Orthodox faction of the
Malankara
Church
to withdraw all cases against it and facilitate reopening of parish churches
lying closed in view of the coming visit of Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Zakka
I.
Offering an olive branch, the Jacobite Church also expressed its willingness to
hold talks with its rival with or without the mediation of social or political
leaders if the demand is met.
Addressing a news conference here, Mulamthuruthy seminary resident Metropolitan
Kuriakose Mar Theophilus said the Patriarch’s visit to the country will coincide
with the beginning of the year-long celebrations of the silver jubilee of the
Patriarch’s consecration.
Apart from various programmes scheduled to be blessed by the Patriarch, the
visit assumes significance as he would preside over the crucial Jacobite Syrian
Christian Association meet at Mulamthuruthy on September 27.
The Metropolitan pointed out that a Patriarch is attending an association meet
for the first time after 1876.
The Patriarch will land at the Nedumbaserry airport on September 20.
He will be received by Catholicos Baselios Thomas I and other church
dignitaries. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the silver jubilee
fete of the Patriarchial consecration at Marine Drive, Ernakulam, on September
21.
Central ministers and socio-political leaders will attend the function.
On the following day, the Patriarch will visit the tomb of Abraham Mar Clemis at
Chingavanam and that of Patriarch Elias III and Benyamin Mar Osthathios at
Manjanikkara and offer special prayers.
On September 23, he will participate in the episcopal synod and the golden
jubilee celebrations of MA College, Kothamangalam.
On September 24, the Patriarch will consecrate the Patriarch Centre at
Puthencruz and later address the Jacobite Church Managing Committee.
On September 25, the auspicious ‘Moron Consecration’ will be led by him. The
Patriach will say Holy Mass in a church at Kottayam the next day.
The last function to be attended by the Patriarch in the State before he leaves
for New Delhi will
be the association meet on September 27. On September 30, the Patriarch will
leave for Damascus.
JACOB’S INDUCTION: Mar Theophilus said that the Jacobie Church is hopeful about
the inclusion of Kerala Congress leader T.M. Jacob in the Chnady Cabinet.
He said that the plea of the Church in this regard needn’t be regarded as
pressure tactics but as a righteous move to cleanse politics and protect the
rights of the community.
Church spokesman Fr Varghese Kallapara, Kuriakose Cor Episcopa Kizhakkedath,
publicity committee convenor Prof. M.A. Poulose, Prof. T.C. Thomas Thandasserri,
Oomachen Venkadath and Biby Abraham Kadavumbhagam attended the news conference.