Amidst protests, the Kottayam district administration took possession of the Jacobite-controlled Marthasmooni church at Thiruvarppu on Thursday following a High Court directive to implement the Supreme Court order to hand over control of 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 the 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 staged a protest and raised slogans against the Orthodox faction. However, the protesters were soon cleared by the police.
Severs ties
The Jacobite faction of the Malankara Church has said it is cutting off all sacramental and spiritual relations with the Orthodox faction.
Joseph Mar Gregorios, metropolitan trustee of the Jacobite faction, told a press conference here on Thursday that the decision was taken in view of the alleged lack of Christian charity and non-adherence to the truth of the matter by the Orthodox group.
