Jacobite faction hits out at rival Orthodox on burial issue

Senior priests of the Jacobite Syrian Church Monday accused the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of denying "a dignified burial" for bodies of their faithful in churches currently controlled by the latter following a 2017 Supreme Court order.

Four metropolitans of the Jacobite faction urged the Orthodox faction to cooperate with the conciliatory efforts being taken by the state government to end the standoff over a century-old dispute between two factions.

"Bodies of our faithful are denied a dignified burial. Our human rights are violated," a metropolitan lamented while referring to the recent row over the conduct of funeral rites and burial of bodies in cemeteries of Churches controlled by the Orthodox faction.

The press conference was attended by Metropolitans Abraham Mor Savariose, Thomas Mor Themotheos, Joseph Mor Gregoriose and Kuriakose Mor Theophilose.

The head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, has said the state government ..