My Message st STOC Annual Meet

A Zoom meeting was conducted in connection with the 47th annual day of St. Thomas Orthodox Congregation in the Desert Land of Thrissur Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on September 11, 2020

I gave this message after the Evening Prayers

At Chalissery Orthodox Church After 23 Years

St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Orthodox Syrian Church, Chalissery, was in Kochi diocese when the Malankara Church faced a split in the early 1970s and opted to be part of the Patriarch faction. In 1982 this became one of the Churches in Thrissur diocese after Kochi diocese was bifurcated to form Thrissur diocese in the Patriarch faction. I became a bishop of the diocese that included this church in 1990 December. But the Hon. Supreme Court verdict that came in 1995 with a final and inconclusive word on the matter, the diocese decided to opt for unity in the Church as directed by the Hon. Court. However, external pressure forced Chalissery church to stand with the non-cooperative group that rebelled against the peace and unity process. This resulted in continuation of the litigation. The Hon. Court further ordered that there shall not be any parallel worship in Chalissery Church. But it took three long years to get the order implemented in Chalissery. Finally, the Hon. High Court of Kerala ordered the Kerala Police to give ample protection to those who abide by the decree of the Hon. Supreme court. As a result, on July 30^th Rev. Fr. Mathew Jacob Puthussery, appointed by me as the vicar quarter of a century back but was forbidden from functioning in the post by anti-unity people in the parish, along with the members who were fighting for the unity in the Church, entered the Church and offered prayers. I after 23 years visited the Church to assess the situation and met the people. This video is taken during my visit.

Janayugom Daily Monthly Column August

Matham Chattukamaakumpol