The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Tension at Piravom Church

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 06, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Tension at Piravom Church

Staff Reporter

Metropolitan of Kandanad East diocese stopped from entering the church

KOCHI: Tension prevailed at the St. Mary's Church, Piravom (Valiapalli), on Thursday morning allegedly after Thomas Athanasios, Metropolitan of the Kandanad East diocese of the Orthodox faction of the Malankara Church, tried to make his way into the church to celebrate Mass.

The Metropolitan was persuaded to leave the church premises after an intervention by the district administration. Intervention by the police brought down the tense situation, as a group of people tried to prevent the Metropolitan from entering the church.

The police security in the area has been tightened.

District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish said that the Metropolitan had been requested to make a written complaint.

The complaint had been handed over to Moovattupuzha Dy.SP Dominic Chavara. The police official will hand over the complaint to the District Collector on the basis of which a discussion will be held here on Saturday between the Metropolitan and officials of the district administration.

The feast of the Baptism of Jesus is on Friday at the Piravom Church and a spokesman for the Jacobite faction of the Malankara Church, Varghese Kallappara, alleged that the attempt by the Orthodox Metropolitan was a bid to interrupt the church festivities.

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