Tension prevailed at Mannamangalam in the district on Wednesday following yet another stand-off between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions of the Malankara Church.
According to a Supreme Court verdict in 2017, the Orthodox faction has the control over the churches and parishes under the Malankara Church. Following the verdict, the Orthodox faction at Mannamangalam had submitted a plea with the District Collector seeking permission to enter the St. Mary’s church, Mannamangalam, which is currently under the control of the Jacobites. But the factions couldn’t reach a consensus.
Talks fail
Even a discussion between the factions in the presence of the Assistant Commissioner of Police on Tuesday failed to find a solution.
Following this, believers of the Orthodox faction, under the leadership of Thrissur Bishop Yuhanon Mar Meletios, took out a march to the St. Mary’s church on Wednesday morning. However, the church gate was locked and 300-odd Jacobites assembled inside the church.
The Orthodox faction conducted a prayer protest outside the gate and the Jacobite faction inside the church.
Bishop Meletios said they would observe a sit-in protest in front of the church gate until they were allowed to conduct prayers in the church. Kunnamkulam Bishop Geevarghese Mar Yulios and Kandanad Bishop Mathew Mar Severios too joined the Thrissur Bishop.
The area remains tense though no untoward incidents have been reported.
Police stance
According to the Ollur police, they will not intervene in the issue unless there is a law-and-order situation.