Kerala: Kuriakose Mor Cleemis back as bishop of Jacobite Syrian church

By: Sandeep Thomas
THRISSUR: After eight years of excommunication, former metropolitan of Idukki diocese, Kuriakose Mor Cleemis, was appointed bishop of Jacobite Syrian Church, Thrissur diocese.
The order issued by supreme head and patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church Mor Ignatius Aprem II states that Mor Cleemis will be the metropolitan of the Thrissur diocese with immediate effect.
Fr Sleeba Paul Vattavelil, priest trustee of the Jacobite church, said, “The local synod of the Jacobite Syrian Church submitted a recommendation to church supreme head to appoint Mor Cleemis as the metropolitan of the Thrissur diocese. The patriarch approved the recommendation by the local Synod.”
“The patriarch has already issued the appointment order and Mor Cleemis assumed charge on Tuesday,” said Vattavelil.
Mor Cleemis, who was the bishop of Idukki, was excommunicated by the Kerala Church leadership on January 10, 2013. The bishop then approached court. The Perumpavoor sub court found that the order excommunicating Mor Cleemis was fake, said church sources.
Adv Sabu Thozupadan, who fought the case, said, “The order by Perumpavoor sub court had clearly stated that the excommunication order against the bishop was forged by Kerala church leadership. The fake excommunication order was in the name of late Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I.”
It was in 2012, that the Jacobite Church synod decided to suspend Mor Cleemis from his post. The bishop had alleged that he paid Catholicos Baselious Thomas I, the local head of the Church, Rs 3 crore to be selected as metropolitan.