A rally and a seminar were organised by rival factions of Malankara Church in Moovattupuzha on Sunday even as police kept watch to keep peace. No untoward incident was reported.
While, the Jacobites organized the rally seeking the faction’s claim to the bishop’s house in the town, the Orthodox faction conducted a seminar in connection with the centenary celebration of the Catholicate.
The bishop’s house is now occupied by Metropolitan Thomas Mar Athanasios of the Orthodox faction. The seminar, held at the auditorium adjacent to the bishop’s house, was inaugurated by Mar Athanasios.
Idayanal Mathai Cor Episcopa spoke on the subject — The Inception of the Catholicate and life of Catholicose Baselios Paulose I.
Meanwhile, the rally in the town was led by Metropolitan Mathews Mar Anthimos of the Jacobite Church, who is also chairman of the organizing committee for the rally.
He alleged said that Mar Athanasios was occupying the bishop’s house and over 2 acres of land illegally and sought its “return to the faithful.”
Police said the rally passed off peacefully and between 8,000 to 10,000 people participated in it. A strong contingent of the police was deployed in the town to meet any situation.