Thiruvananthapuram: The reconciliatory talks initiated by the cabinet sub-committee to resolve the issues between the Jacobite and Orthodox factions of the Malankara Syrian Church remained inconclusive as the latter boycotted the meeting in Kochi on Tuesday.
The subcommittee with industries minister E. P. Jayarajan as convener and revenue minister E. Chandrasekharan, transport minister A.K. Saseendran, ports minister Ramachandran Kadannappally and water resources minister Krishnankutty as members was formed in the wake of the law and order issues which started after the Supreme Court verdict giving the Orthodox faction control over 1,100 parishes and their churches.
Recently, tensions prevailed at two prominent churches in Piravom and Kothamangalam as opposing factions took on each other over their control.
Jacobites had taken out mass protests and demonstrations against the implementation of the verdict, even physically blocking Orthodox clergymen who attempted to enter.
Orthodox faction boycotted the meeting pointing out that the SC issued its final order in the Malankara church-related cases.
They wanted the government to implement the SC order immediately and questioned the relevance of talks.
Jacobites, however, said that the Orthodox faction's decision not to attend the meeting only showed they are not ready to solve the dispute.
The SC upheld the 1934 Malankara Church guideline and ruled that the Orthodox faction should control 1,100 parishes and their churches under Malankara.
The disputes started in the early 20th century when the then Malankara metropolitan appointed his successor without the Patriarch's blessing. It divided the church into two groups often leading to violence.
The Catholicate independent from the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch was established under the leadership of Vattasseril Divanyasius with the help of ex-communicated Abdul Messiah which started the division.
In 1906, a Jacobite Synod of Turkey dismissed Patriarch Abdul Messiah and installed Abdalla in his place.
