5-September-2006
dt.5th September 2006
THRIKKUNNATHU SEMINARY:
ROW OVER CATHOLICOS' ORDER
ALUVA: The Malankara Orthodox Church seemed heading towards yet another internal
revolt on the question of the kalpana (order), reportedly issued by c Marthoma
Didimos I.
According to the order, Fr Bobby Varghese was removed from the posts of vicar of
Thrikkunnath Seminary chapel and manager of the Thrikkunnath Seminary, the
headquarters of Angamaly Diocese of the Orthodox Church.
Fr M O John, vicar of Marady Church and visiting vicar in South Africa, has been
appointed as the new manager and vicar in the vacancy.
Copies of the order were reportedly sent from Kottayam Catholicate to
Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Milithios, Fr Bobby Varghese and Fr M O John on Friday.
But Fr Bobby Varghese said that he had not received it so far.
The order should have been read normally during the Sunday Mass. A large section
of the parishioners had thronged the church on Sunday. Chaos prevailed on the
seminary premises.
A section of them, protesting against the unceremonious removal of Fr Bobby
Varghese, declared that the said order was issued without the knowledge or
consent of the Catholicos.
Meanwhile, the rival group alleged that Fr Bobby, who received the order on
Saturday itself, feigned ignorance of the same to avoid reading the same during
the Mass. The copies of the order had reached Metropolitan Milithios and Fr M O
John on Saturday, they said.
Meanwhile, Metropolitans Poulose Mar Milithios (Kunnamkulam Diocese), Thomas Mar
Mackarios (USA) and Zacharias Mar Nicolas (America) who paid an unscheduled
visit to the Thrikkunnath Seminary aroused suspicion among the parishioners.
DYSP E T Mathew said that the police had not received any complaint in this
regard. However, the Thrikkunnath Seminary is likely to witness unruly scenes if
the order is implemented without any consensus.