Patriarch of Syrian Orthodox Church visits India amidst controversy, puts Kerala CM in dilemma

Kochi – Amidst controversy and tension, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Ignatius Zakka I, the supreme head of the Syrian Orthodox Church, arrived on a ten–day visit to India recently.

He attended an episcopal synod besides a host of religious and public programmes.

As President of the World Christian Council, the Patriarch met President A P J Abdul Kalam, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Opposition leaders during his stay in Delhi from September 27.

He arrived at the Nedumbassery airport last month and attended the church synod at Karingachira church on September 23 according to news report. He was received by members of his faction and senior United Democratic Front leaders T.M. Jacob and P.P. Thankachen.

The visit of Patriarch Ignatius Zaka I coincides with the decision of the Kerala High Court in dismissing a plea to direct him not to indulge in religious activities during his visit. His visit comes at a time when conflict is at its height between two warring factions of the original Syrian Jacobite Church, split into the Orthodox and the Patriarch (Jacobite) groups. The Patriarch chief has been given the status of a state guest and has been provided tight security.

Despite several interventions by the state chief minister and several top Christian political leaders, the row between the two factions of the church has not been settled. A Supreme Court ruling in 2003 asked for the conduct of an election of the supreme head. In the election, Orthodox supremo Baselious Marthoma Mathews II was elected as head of the church, which has, however, not been accepted by the Jacobite faction.

The Patriarch attended the church synod at Karingachira church on September 23. All the 18 bishops of the Jacobite Syrian Church, which is part of the Antioch tradition, and the visiting bishops, along with the Patriarch, sat for the synod, termed as the supreme summit, to say the final word on the church beliefs and its constitution.

''In the changed circumstances, the synod assumes relevance. That is why even during the last visit of the Patriarch in 1982, such a synod was not held,'' the Catholicos said.

There has been an age–old feud between the Jacobite and Orthodox factions in the Malankara Church over the possession of several churches and the Orthodox faction did not accept Antioch chief as their supreme head.

Orthodox supremo Baselious Marthoma Mathews II said the visit was a blatant violation of the law of the land. According to law, no one on a tourist visa can preach religion. However, Catholicos Baselios Thomas I (Jacobite) retorted otherwise, “He has been here twice in the past and he is here as the religious head of our church. He is holding a diplomatic passport. We do not know if he is on a tourist visa.” When asked, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy avoided taking a stand by saying, "Yes, the issue is there and there is time to take a decision. We will wait and see the various views and then we will decide."

In fact, the Orthodox faction has made a representation to Chandy, himself an Orthodox, to ensure that the visiting Patriarch head does not address public functions or take part in religious ceremonies during his visit. However, Chandy has already made it clear that the visit would go as scheduled and asked the rival factions to avoid any sort of confrontation.

The Patriarch consecrated a new church in Thiruvalla followed by a public address at Kochi that was attended by at least 1,50,000 followers. Chandy took part in both the meetings, further irking the Orthodox group.

The visiting church head also presided over the synod at Mulanthuruthy on September 27, held by the Jacobite Syrian Christian Association. It was in 1876 that a Patriarch attended such a synod.