Following an assurance made by the government that an amicable settlement will be reached between the Jacobite and Orthodox factions regarding the issue of worship at Kolenchery Valiyapalli, Catholicos Baselios Thomas I of the Jacobite Church concluded his 14-day fast on Sunday. The Catholicos had begun an indefinite fast on October 6, after he was denied permission to pray at the church, following a High Court order.
The High Court order stated that the Orthodox faction should be given control over St Peter’s and St Paul’s church. Fr Varghese Kallapara, the spokesperson of the Jacobite Church, said that the Chief Minister on Sunday gave an oral assurance that the Cabinet meeting had decided that an agreement favourable to both the parties has been made.
The written declaration will be released in a week’s time. “We have not been told what the agreement is, but an assurance has been given. The Catholicos has concluded his fast, but we will continue with the ‘prarthana yagnam’ until we receive a written declaration,” Fr Varghese said.
A meeting was held on Saturday night. The Jacobite faction had conducted a mass at a pandal fixed outside the church on Sunday. The representatives of the Church factions hope to receive a written declaration by at least Saturday.
“We wish to conduct the mass at the Church next Sunday,” the spokesperson added.