Aluva June 11 2005:
The attempt of the Catholicos-Elect Thomas Mar Thimothios to
establish the headquarters of Diocese of Angamaly East at the
Thrikkunnathu Seminary created un precedent tension here on
Friday, according media reports. Now Catholicos-Elect Mar
Thimothios is in charge of Angamaly East following the
resignation of Bishop Severios, who had been its bishop.
Without fully understanding the situation, the Catholicos-Elect
reached Thrikkunnathu seminary to establish an office at
Thrikkunnathu seminary for Angamaly East and eventually to give
this place to a Metropolitan who is set to be the successor to
bishop Severios. Foreseeing the danger of giving Thrikkunnathu
Seminary under the custody of a Metropolitan who had come from
the Patriarchal faction, Chor-Episcopos Jacob Mannaraprayil,
vicar at Thukkunnah Seminary and the Orthodox faithful attached
to it resisted the move, which created an unhealthy tension.
"The church leaders do not understand the trap arranged behind
this move. The people who are against the vicar and Manager of
Thrikkunnathu seminary Jacob Mannaraprayil Chor-Episcopos are
not trustworthy. They have a hidden agenda to grab this Seminary
for the dissident faction." one of the observers told Indian
Orthodox Herald.
Mannaraprayil reportedly
called for the police to protect himself and the property of the
seminary. Police Superintendent M. Wahab visited the seminary
premises to check the law and order on campus
A strong police contingent, including officers of Aluva
Sub-Division led by DySP E.T.Mathew, has camped around the
seminary in order to protect the Seminary and its properties.
This was necessary because of a threat that the seminary would
be taken over by the gangs of a metropolitan, violating a court
order.
"This was not a procedure against the leaders of the Malankara
Church; this is to save the seminary from from going into the
hands of the enemies" said Mannaraprayil
(Indian Orthodox Herald wonder why the office of the diocese of
the Angamaly East should be at Thrikkunnathu Seminary? Can't
they not find and adequate place some where within territories
of that diocese)
Further, he reportedly told the police that no Kalpana from
Devalokam could be enforced in the seminary, in the absence of
its Metropolitan Paulos Mar Pachomios, who is undergoing
treatment at Karthikappilly following a car accident.
