Kochi/Kottayam: Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church Ignatius Aphrem II, the spiritual head of the Jacobite Church, has offered to hold peace talks with the rival Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church during his visit to Kerala on Tuesday but the latter has dismissed the offer saying the Patriarch should initiate the process for the implementation of the Supreme Court's verdicts first. The visit of the Patriarch will facilitate peace in the Malankara Church, metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Theophilose, media coordinator of the faction, told reporters here on Monday.
"The Patriarch has sent a letter to the Orthodox head Catholicos Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II informing his willingness to hold negotiation talks," he said. "However, we have received no response from their part so far." The Orthodox Church leadership has, however, ruled out discussions saying the Patriarch has not communicated the invitation to the Catholicos through proper channels. Yuhanon Mar Diascoros, auxiliary bishop of Kottayam and secretary of the bishops' synod, told DC that the letter was addressed not to the church's head but to a priest. "Let the Patriarch take the initiatives for implementing the verdicts of the Supreme Court first. Moreover, we are not prepared for the discussions," Mar Diascoros said, adding that the selection of the four bishops by the Jacobite faction for talks was unilateral.
The Patriarch of Antioch will be received at the airport by Catholicos Baselios Thomas I. Later, he will attend the Episcopal synod to be held at the Puthencruz Patriarchal Centre. He will also address the working committee members of the Church. The Patriarch, who will meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday will leave for New Delhi on May 24 where he will meet the President and the Prime Minister. He will return to Lebanon on May 26.
