The standoff between the two factions of the Malankara Church over the St. Peter's and St. Paul's Church at Kolencherry continues, with heads of the Jacobite and the Orthodox groups on an indefinite fast.
Efforts by the district administration to broker peace had failed on Monday. The Jacobite Church is demanding that status quo on spiritual matters at the church should continue despite a district court order last week to hand over its administration to the Orthodox group.
On Tuesday, following a request by the District Collector, the High Court judge Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan, who is the president of the Kerala Mediation Centre, appointed two High Court lawyers as mediators. Mr. Radhakrishnan urged the leaders of the factions to resile from the path of agitation and antagonism.
Catholicos Baselios Thomas I of the Jacobite faction and Catholicos Baselios Paulose II of the Orthodox faction are on the fast demanding that the government recognise their respective demands.
A spokesman for the Jacobite faction said its Synod would meet at Kolencherry on Wednesday to decide on the future course of action. Synod secretary Mar Joseph Gregorios will lead the synod.
The Orthodox faction appointed a seven-member committee to chalk out an action plan. A spokesman for the group said that protest rallies would be held in places such as Piravom, Thiruvalla, Kottayam and Pampady on Wednesday. The group held a demonstration and meeting at Vyttila junction here on Tuesday. The meeting was led by Bishop of Thrissur Yuhannan Mar Mileteos.
The spokesman said the group did not want to accept a formula by the district administration to implement the court order over the next few days.
The two groups were so far allowed to offer prayers at the church by rotation.
N. Dharmadan and Sreelal Warrier, lawyers appointed for mediation, are accredited by the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee of the Supreme Court.
