ALUVA: The first day of the ‘Ormathirunnal’ at Thrikkunnath St Mary’s church here concluded peacefully on Wednesday thanks to the excellent arrangements made by the police and the district administration in the presence of High Court-appointed observer Sreelal Warrier. Those belonging to the Orthodox faction who camped on the Thrikkunnathu Seminary premises adjacent to the Thrikkunnathu St Mary’s Church, shouted slogans against Catholicos Baselios Thomas I of the Jacobite Church who was returning after offering ‘dhoopa’ prayers at the tomb. Tension mounted when the Jacobite faithful, standing in queue to offer prayers, retaliated by shouting against the Orthodox faction. They shouted that the Orthodox faction was illegally keeping their rightful assets, including the Thrikkunnathu Church and seminary. The police had a tough time controlling the mob from clashing each other.Meanwhile, the police move to close the entry gate preventing the Jacobite faithful from offering prayers at the tombs at 4.45 pm drew protest. The time allotted to Orthodox faction was from 7 am to 11 am and for the Jacobite faction it was from 1 pm to 5 pm. However, District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth in consultation with Ernakulam Rural SP K P Philip and observer Sreelal Warrier allowed the Jacobite faction to continue prayers at the tomb till 5 pm. DySPs A Anilkumar, R Salim and Tomy Sebastian, RDO Shanavaz and Tahsildar Anil Oommen assisted the District Collector and the SP. Hundreds of Jacobite pilgrims came to the festival on foot from Akaparambu Mor Sabore Afroth Valiapally led by Fr Titus Varghese Cor Episcopa and Fr Varghese V Areeckal. Jacobite Metropolitans Abraham Mar Severios, Elias Mar Athanasios, Mathews Mar Anthimose, Joseph Mar Gregorios, Kuriakose Mar Ivanios, Kuriakose Mar Cleemis, Kuriakose Mar Yousebios, Mathews Mar Athanasios, Kuriakose Mar Theophilus, Kuriakose Mar Severios, Yuhanon Mar Milithios and Kuriakose Mar Gregorios, Church secretary Thambu George Thukalan, trustee George Thomas Thekkethalakkal, Commander Shibu Thekkumpuram, Almadeepam editor C Y Varghese were among those who offered ‘dhoopa’ prayers.In the morning, those belonging to the Orthodox faction offered prayers at the tombs from 7 am. Catholicos Marthoma Poulose II and metropolitans Yuhanon Mar Policarpose, Mathews Mar Severios and Poulose Mar Pachomios, Vaideeka trustee Fr Johns Abraham Konat, church secretary George Joseph and priests of the Orthodox faction offered ‘dhoopa’ prayers.Meanwhile, another controversy erupted when Catholicos Baselios Thomas I claimed that he had performed Holy Qurbana in front of the tombs. The Catholicos said that the Holy Mass was being performed there after two decades. Refuting the claim, the Orthodox leaders said that the Holy Mass could not be performed in ten minutes. The Orthodox faction alleged that the official rob (‘Kaappa’) which was kept hidden with some Jacobite Church leaders was worn unexpectedly by Catholicos Thomas I and he began prayers on the pretext of offering Holy Mass. According to them, the Catholicos was reportedly whisked away when he tried to stay at the tomb for more than ten minutes.Observer Sreelal Warrier told ‘Express’ that the feast was held strictly according to the High Court directive. The District Collector said that the feast passed off without any untoward incident. SP Philip said it was peaceful and both factions cooperated with the police. The ‘Ormathirunnal’ will conclude on Thursday.
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