25-October-2006
New Indian Express dt. 25th October 2006
Seminary row
may end soon
Tuesday October 24 2006 13:18 IST
ALUVA: If the reported positive move by the
government following the discussion with the delegations of Jacobite and
Orthodox factions recently is any indication, the efforts of the State
Government to resolve the rivalry between the factions especially on the
ownership of the Thrikkunnath Seminary here are likely to yield result soon.
The government that is considering the pleas and claims of both Churches is
learnt to have decided to open the church for worship for both the factions in
connection with the death anniversaries of Kadavil Mar Athanasius on November 2
and Vayaliparambil Mar Gregorios on November 6.
Catholicos Thomas I had urged the government to take steps to allow both
factions to offer rites at the church. The Jacobite Church had condemned the
reluctance of the government to open the closed churches for prayers and other
ceremonies.
The Church authorities also protested against the undue delay on the part of the
government to ensure the restoration of Thrikkunnath Seminary to its rightful
and legal owners - the Angamaly Diocese of the Jacobite Church from the Orthodox
faction who possessed the seminary and its properties illegally.
The action plan to open the closed churches and to regain the seminary and its
properties, prepared by Fr Varghese Kallappara who has been entrusted of the
Jacobite Church, was ratified by the high-level committee headed by Catholicos
Thomas I.
As part of the action plan a delegation headed by Catholicos Thomas I met the
Chief Minister V Ss Achuthanandan and Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan last
week and apprised them of the demands and claims of the Jacobite Church.