Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 9 (IANS) After warring for decades, the two factions of Kerala's influential Syrian Orthodox Church, which have a combined strength of over two million, have indicated they are taking steps to sign a truce.
The church's majority group known as the Orthodox faction has its headquarters in the state's Kottayam city while the Jacobite faction's supreme leader, the Patriarch of Antioch, is based in Beirut, Lebanon.
The first move came from visiting Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Mar Aphrem-II.
On his first visit to Kerala after being appointed as the patriarch, he Saturday set up a five-member committee of the Jacobite faction to open talks with the Orthodox faction.
On Sunday, the supreme head of the Orthodox Church, Baselios MarThoma Paulose II, welcomed the move, saying necessary consultations will be held in his church and a decision will be taken.
The feud in the Syrian Orthodox Church in Kerala for power and wealth is legendary.
On many occasions, the squabble has been taken to the streets and clashes between members of the two factions broke out, leading to protests even by the bishops of the respective churches.
Incidentally, for a brief period from 1958 to 1970 following a Supreme Court ruling, the factions remained under one roof with Kottayam as the headquarters of the church.
Since 1970, they have been at war against each other again.
"Even though there are quite a few court rulings that are in favour of the Orthodox faction, no government will take the risk of implementing the court order, as it would certainly lead to a bloodbath," an Orthodox church member said on condition of anonymity.
"The most practical approach would be to allow the two factions to go their respective ways and to equitably share the wealth of the nearly 10 churches that is the key to the present squabbling," said the Orthodox church member.
The war of words has intensified in the campaign for the assembly elections in Maharashtra. Meanw
India is scheduled to conduct a ballistic missile test from Wheeler Island (Odisha's Abdul Kalam
Congress holds protest rally against land acquisition bill
New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) The Congress on Monday took out a protest march against the land acqu
Just as awards have started being sold in the name of Dadasaheb Phalke in every street
Modi wishes Sushma Swaraj on Birthday
New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Satu
Liquor sold amid lockdown, 300 crore in UP and 59 crore in two hours in Rajasthan
New Delhi: On the first day of lockdown three, the sale of liquor was banned, so the business was
Kashmir policeman dies of suspected swine flu, 84 cases confirmed
Jammu, Feb 19 (IANS) A police superintendent in Jammu and Kashmir died of acute respiratory dis
Serial pager blasts in several cities of Lebanon have created a sensation. 20 people died in the
AAP will win 40 seats, may cross 50: Yogendra Yadav
New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to win about 40 seats and could even c
Oil companies have released the prices of petrol and diesel for today. Today companies have not m
