Kerala Jacobite, Orthodox factions to obey court order

Mangalore Today News Network

Kochi, Feb 23, 2016: Warring Jacobite and Orthodox factions in Kerala, in a meeting, decided to implement the Supreme Court order on the opening of contentious St Peter’s and St Paul’s Syrian Church in Kolenchery.

Last week, the apex court had ordered to open the church to both factions and directed the district collector to fix the prayer timings for both factions.

The Jacobite faction will offer prayers from 5am to 8.30am and the Orthodox faction from 9am to 12.30pm on all normal days, Sundays and Holy Saturday.

The timings will change for each faction every other week. On Maundy Thursday, the Jacobite faction will offer prayers from 6pm on Wednesday to 1am on Thursday while the Orthodox faction will offer prayers from 2am to 9am.

On Good Friday, each sect should offer prayers as per the timings on normal days. Special prayers on Good Friday should be offered at their respective chapels. For Easter, the Jacobite faction can offer prayers from 6pm on Saturday to 1am on Sunday and the Orthodox faction from 2am to 9am on Sunday.

Both factions should equally share the electricity charge of the church. The agreement reached at the meeting will come into force on Saturday with the Jacobite faction to first offer the prayers.