INTER CHURCH COUNCIL ASSUMES ROLE OF A MEDIATOR

Newindpress
ewsItems.asp?ID=IER20080212211743&Page=R&T itle=Kerala&Topic=0
Feb 13 2008
India

NEDUMBASERRY: The Inter-Church Council had begun its efforts to settle
down the church dispute at Malankara, said Mosool (Turkey) Diocese
Archbishop Mar Gregorios Semon Saleeba at the Kochi airport on Monday.

Archbishop Saleeba who was leading a ten-member pilgrim to attend the
76th Dokorono festival of Patriarch Elias-III, who was interred in
Manjinikkara Dayara, arrived here as the representative of Patriarch
Ignatios Zaka-I. The pilgrims included the relatives of the deceased
Patriach Elias-III.

Armenian Aram-I who was entrusted by ICC to mediate the dispute
between Jacobite and Orthodox Churches, held a three-day discussion
with Patriarch of Antioch Zaka-I, the spiritual leader of Jacobite
Church, in Damascus last week, told Archbishop Saleeba.

The ICC aimed at solving the issue amicably and permanently. The ICC
wanted the Churches in Malankara should always witness the Christian
doctrines. Patriarh Aram-I will visit Kerala positively in April. He
will mainly discuss the issue with the leadership of Orthodox Church.

Aram-I will also find time to hold discussion with both the factions
separately and he will try to discuss with both the factions together.

The Archbishop Saleeb and pilgrims were received by the faithful led by
Manjinikkara Dayara Auxiliary Metropolitan Gregorios Mar Athanasios,
Church spokesperson Fr Varghese Kallappara and Almadeepam editor C
Y Varghese.