Head of the Syrian Christian Church Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II called on the faithful to eschew violence and to resort to passive resistance to obtain justice. He said India, a land of tolerance, had set an example through Mahatma Gandhi in peaceful protest.
In a televised message to thousands of Jacobite Syrian Church members here on the Patriarchal Day celebrations on Sunday, the Patriarch said he was one with the sufferings of the people in the Malankara Church and reiterated the unbreakable link between the Malankara Church and the throne of Antioch.
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Unity, faithfulness
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He reminded the faithful that it was in Antioch that Christians were first called Christians. His message frequently met with shouts of unity with and faithfulness to the throne of Antioch. He said he wanted both the factions of the Malankara Church to live in peace and harmony even as he called for dignity for all sections.
The Patriarch said though a committee was set up to establish peace and reconciliation there was no reciprocation of the gesture.
He called for peaceful and legal means to achieve justice for the faithful.
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Catholicos Baselios Thomas I, head of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church in Malankara, and synod secretary Joseph Mar Gregorios were among those who spoke at the mammoth gathering. The latter reiterated the sentiment that it was no longer possible to achieve reconciliation between the two factions of the Malankara Church.
He called on everyone to show the goodwill to part as brothers.
Thousands of members of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church from all over Kerala participated in the Patriarchal Day celebrations, which was conducted at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium.
People came in hundreds of buses from different parts and the venue of the celebrations was full even before the scheduled opening at 3 p.m.