Kottayam (Keralam) | Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Diascoros on Saturday said Jacobite Syrian Church leaders' willingness to embrace reconciliation could pave the way for a permanent solution to the dispute between the two churches.
He was responding to Chief Minister V D Satheesan's call for unity among churches in Keralam, as the government offered to support efforts to bring them together.
The dispute between the two churches concerns the ownership and control of several churches in Keralam and has been the subject of prolonged legal battles.
Satheesan made the appeal while addressing the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Synod of Mulanthuruthy, organised by the Jacobite Syrian Church at Puthencruz on Friday.
The event was attended by Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church.
Speaking to reporters, Diascoros said the Malankara Orthodox Church had consistently maintained that peace and unity should prevail within the Church.
Referring to Satheesan's address, he pointed out that while the audience warmly welcomed the chief minister's remarks on reconciliation with applause, those seated behind him on the dais did not appear to respond positively.
He said Satheesan deserved appreciation for the appeal.
He also referred to speeches by BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and actor Mammootty, who spoke about the pain and difficulties the Church faced due to the dispute at the same event.
"If the Church leaders are willing to embrace these views and work towards reconciliation, it will open the way for permanent peace," Diascoros said, making an apparent reference to the Jacobite leadership.
However, he also pointed to another paradox in the government's position, alleging that government lawyers had made factually incorrect submissions before courts in connection with the dispute.
He said it was unclear whether the lawyers had made those submissions with the government's knowledge or out of their own personal interests.
Earlier, Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and Supreme Head of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, had also appealed for reconciliation and unity between the two churches.
The Patriarch is currently on a visit to Keralam.
