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Marthoman Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Church
Why is it in News?
- The Kerala government took control of Marthoman Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Church at Mulanthuruthy in Ernakulam district.
Details:
- The Church has been in the focus of a dispute between Jacobite and Orthodox factions of the Malankara Church, a prominent non-Catholic Christian community.
- About Church:
(1) The Church at Mulanthuruthy, built in AD 1200, has been managed by Jacobite faction.
(2) It is one of the ancient Churches in Kerala.
(3) The church is a fine example of Gothic architecture.
- The carvings, sculptures, symbolic icons and wall paintings, are a blend of Indian, West-Asian and European architecture.
History of conflict:
(1) The Malankara Church first split in 1912, into the Jacobite and Orthodox groups. The two Churches reunified in 1959, but the truce lasted only until 1972-73.
(2) Since then, the two factions have been engaged in battle over ownership of churches and their wealth.
(3) The Christian population of Kerala comprises Catholic, Jacobite Syrian, Orthodox Syrian, Mar Thoma, Church of South India, Dalit Christians and Pentecostal Churches/groups.
- Supreme Court Verdict:
(1) Supreme Court verdict transferred its ownership to the rival Orthodox Church.
(2) Sc upheld the validity of the 1934 constitution of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church to govern the parishes under the Church.
- Impact of verdict:
(1) It impacted over 1000-odd churches.
(2) Since the SC verdict, several churches under dispute have already been handed over to the Orthodox group despite stiff resistance from the bishops and laymen.
- Why takeover now?
(1) As the government delayed implementing the SC order, the Orthodox Church moved to division bench against the non-compliance of the order of the apex court.
(2) The division bench issued an ultimatum to the Ernakulam District Collector that the church should be taken over within five days and submit a compliance report.