The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church lined up 25 of its bishops and hundreds of priests in front of the Secretariat on Monday in protest against what it termed partiality shown by the Oommen Chandy Government to its rival faction, the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church.
Jacobite Church Synod secretary Metropolitan Joseph Mor Gregorios inaugurated the sit-in and fast. Catholicos Baselios Thomas I, the head of the church, was present at the nearby St Peter’s Jacobite Syrian Simhasana Church.
The Jacobite faction has accused the Government of aiding the Orthodox faction to deny them the right to worship and in closing down disputed churches. The Jacobite faction plans to step up agitations and organise a convention in Kottayam if justice continued to be denied to it.
The bishops who attended the fast included Mathews Mor Ivanios, Kuriakose Mor Theophilos, Mathews Mor Theodosios, Mathew Mor Aphrem, Geeverghase Mor Koorilos and Archbishop of the Knanaya Church Kuriakose Mor Severios.