Court suspends Knanaya Metropolitan’s suspension

A local court in Kottayam on Saturday stayed an order of the Patriarch of Antioch suspending the metropolitan of the Syrian Archdiocese of Knanaya in Malankara.

The Kottayam Munsiff Court II issued the order based on a petition filed by the supporters of Mar Severios Kuriakose Metropolitan. The court referred the case for further hearing on May 25.

An official statement from Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II on Friday said Mar Severios’ actions “amounted to a questioning of the authority of the Holy Throne of Antioch.” It had previously stripped Mar Severios of his title of “Archbishop and Chief Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Knanaya in India” after he acted against the orders of the Patriarch of Antioch. He continued his anti-church activities, which led to his suspension, the statement said.

To show their support for the metropolitan, clergy and believers took to the streets on Saturday. They protested against the patriarch’s decision to suspend him.

Knanaya Samudhaya secretary TO Abraham said a meeting of clergy and faithful in support of the Metropolitan would be held at the church headquarters in Chingavanam on Sunday at 3pm.