Jacobite Church slams alleged irregularities in delegate list by Orthodox faction

The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church has condemned the alleged irregularities in the list of members and delegates readied by the Orthodox faction. In a press release issued on Thursday (August 27, 2026), the Jacobite Church alleged that “the situation is such that priests who have little connection” with the parishes concerned have been appointed in churches where members of the Jacobite faction are in vast majority.

Kuriakose Mor Theophilos, chairman, media cell of the Jacobite Church, said there were also “instances in the list of the same priest being appointed as vicar in multiple parishes.” In this situation, steps must be taken “in an impartial manner to verify such irregularities” in the relevant documents which have been used to “mislead” courts and the other authorities concerned. A similar attempt was made in 2002 at Parumala, he alleged.

The Church cannot accept such attempts to “centralise” power, which goes against the participatory approach being adopted after the Synod of Mulanthuruty in 1876. Further, the Church cannot accept “the ousting” of over 2,500 Jacobite church members from the historic Mulanthuruthy church. Care must also be given to adhere to court orders to settle the feud between the factions. On its part, the government must form a legislation to find a lasting settlement to the feud, he added.