Little headway in Kolenchery church negotiations

The protest over the ownership of St Paul's and St Peter's Church at Kolenchery, Kerala continues with representatives of both sides failing to come to a consensus.

On Thursday, negotiations between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions by the district administration and KMC made no headway in resolving the differences.

The High Court had earlier deputed the Kerala Mediation Centre (KMC) to broker peace between the warring sides.

Media reported that a two-member commission appealed to both the factions to end the strike and indefinite fasts organised to maintain law and order.

However, leaders of both factions continue to be adamant on their stand and will not put down their fasts in Kolenchery and other neighbouring districts.

"All the individual churches under the Orthodox Church will observe fast on Friday. The faithful under Kochi diocese will observe fast at the High Court junction," said E C Alias, PRO, Orthodox Malankara Syrian Church.

While consensus were reached on issues such as rituals, entry to church, etc, there has been no agreement on the place to conduct prayers.

"Consensus has been reached upon a slew of issues like burial. But, the ice is yet to melt on the issues related to the worship," District Collector PI Sheik Pareeth was quoted by the Indian Express, as saying.

Tension has been prevailing in Kolenchery since Catholicos Baelious Mar Thoma Paulose II, who heads the Orthodox faction went on an indefinite fast since Sunday evening.

Catholicos Paulose II has been demanding execution of the court order which allows the Orthodox faction to have the ownership of the church.

The Jacobite Church meanwhile is demanding that their status quo continue despite the district court order.

The dispute over the church began 52 years ago.