Kochi: Kerala High Court on Friday directed Orthodox faction to attend Sunday prayers at the Piravom St. Mary’s Church. The court said that those who uphold the 1934 Church Constitution can attend the Sunday prayers.
The district administration will continue to control the Piravom Church and the case will be next heard on Tuesday.
The Orthodox and Jacobite factions have been caught in a tussle over the possession of the church. Recently the apex court passed an order directing that the Church should be given to the Orthodox group.
The local police on Thursday took over the control of the Church and arrested a group of Jacobite priests who assembled at the church to prevent Orthodox priests from offering prayers.
Agitated Jacobite priests and its followers had locked themselves inside the premised of the church and not allowing the Orthodox group to enter. Jacobite church followers have been accused of preventing access to the Orthodox faction, despite orders of the High Court and the Supreme Court.