Amidst protests, the Kottayam district administration here on Thursday took possession of the Marthasmooni Jacobite Syrian Church in Thiruvarppu following a High Court directive to implement the Supreme Court order to hand over control of all parishes in the Malankara Church to the Orthodox group.
Acting on a directive by District Collector M. Anjana, Kottayam tahsildar P.G. Rajendra Babu, with the support of a strong police contingent, arrived at the spot around 5 a.m. and broke open its gates to enter the church premises. This was followed by an announcement regarding the takeover proceedings and notices were pasted on the church and other buildings on the property, besides at the main entry.
The Jacobite faction, which was managing the church, staged a protest against the takeover and raised slogans against the Orthodox faction. However, the protesters were soon cleared by the police and the proceedings passed off peacefully.
Metropolitan leaves
“They protested against the takeover of the parish hall and the bishop’s house where Thomas Mor Alexandrios, the Metropolitan of Mumbai Diocese of Malankara Jacobite Syriac Church, had been staying. We, however, convinced them about the court order and the Metropolitan, who was inside the bishop’s house, soon vacated the space,” said an official.
Having sealed the buildings by 8 a.m., the tahsildar submitted a report in this regard to the District Collector. The church will remain under police security until its reopening.
Keys to be handed over
The keys, currently in the possession of the tahsildar, will be handed over to the Orthodox faction after assessing the the law and order situation. “The Collector is now slated to submit a report on the proposed reopening of the church in the court,” added the official.
50 persons booked
Meanwhile, the Kumarakom police booked 50 persons under the Kerala Epidemic Disease Ordinance 2020 for violating the physical distancing guidelines during the protest.
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