Patriarch Assigns Roles to Metropolitans

KOCHI: Reaffirming his control over the Malankara Church, Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem-II  has issued an order entrusting  responsibilities to the metropolitans of the Jacobite Syrian Church.   The order issued by the Patriarch gains significance in the wake of the controversy over the transfer and appointment of some of the metropolitans.

  The Patriarch had cancelled the decision taken by the synod of the Church transferring two metropolitans, following protests by the prelates themselves and a section of the laity. The controversy over the transfer of metropolitans to foreign countries by Catholicos Baselios Thomas is also likely to die down after the Patriarch’s decision.

  “In the order sent to the Church headquarters on Friday night, some of the metropolitans have been given the additional responsibility of foreign dioceses also. Idukki Metropolitan Zacharias Mor Philoxenos and Mumbai Metropolitan Thomas Mor Alexandrios, who were reinstated at their respective diocese, have also been entrusted with the additional responsibility of the foreign dioceses. Mor Philoxenos has been entrusted with the charge of England, while Mor Alexandrios has been given the charge of the Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah dioceses,” said Fr Varghese Kallappara, spokesperson for the Church.

  “Abraham Mor Severios, the senior-most metropolitan of the Jacobite Church, has been entrusted with the responsibility of Kuwait. He has also been given the charge of the Simhasana Churches in Kerala. Geevarghese Mor Athanasius will be responsible for Australia and New Zealand, while Kollam Bishop Yuhanon Mor Milithios is given the charge of Ireland. Markos Mor Chrisostomos is entrusted with the responsibility of Muscat and Salalah, while Mathews Mor Thevodosius will take care of the faithful in  Sharjah, Al-Ain and Ras-al-Khaimah,” Fr Kallappara said. With the Patriarch making direct appointments, the controversy has come to an  end, at least temporally.