Catholicose of Syriac Orthodox Church arrested and released on unconditional Bail. In a strange turn of events the Kerala state government and police (South India) of secular India arrested The Syriac Orthodox Catholicose of the East Mor Baselios Thomas I along with two other bishops, priests and faithful for offering Holy Liturgy in the Church and later released them on unconditional bail. This was in spite of the fact that worship at the disputed St Marys Syriac Orthodox Church at Thrikkunathu , Alwaye WAS GRANTED by the same authorities. The Church and its environs were built by the Syriac Orthodox Saint St Athanasius Paulose in the forties. During the brief union with the Schismatic Indian Orthodox Church (1958 - 1975), the Church and other properties came under the rule of the Indian Orthodox Bishop as per peace agreement. This Bishop was given charge of the diocese then. However the Church fell into dispute after the split and excommunication of the Indian Orthodox Church in 1975. The Indian Orthodox Bishop REFUSED to hand it back to the Syriac Orthodox Church. Reasons 1) The Church and its properties are worth millions of dollars in value 2) To demoralize the Syriac Orthodox Church as the tomb of their Saint St Athanasius Paulose is interred in this Church and to deny them intercession at his tomb. As a result this dispute church has remained close for close to 40 years now except on the anniversary of the Syriac Saint when faithful are allowed to visit his Tomb. Often the Indian Orthodox create skirmishes to prevent the faithful on this day resulting in controversies which has now become an annual tradition. The Syriac Orthodox Church had repeatedly requested the Indian Orthodox Church to relocate the tomb so they could venerate their saint as is due and allow the Indian Orthodox to keep the properties but the Indian Orthodox has steadfastly refused even this to this day. That the chief minister of the state and the secretary to its Home Ministers are Indian Orthodox Christians have fueled rumors about the conspiracy angle of the Indian Orthodox Hierarchical involvement the whole issue. Please pray for the Syriac Orthodox Christians in India.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 05:07:19 +0000
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