Kochi: His Holiness Mor Baselios Thomas I, the Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Church, has relinquished his administrative duties. The Patriarch of Antioch Moran Mor Ignatius Apphrem II has accepted the resignation.
A three-member administrative committee of senior Metropolitans - Abraham Mor Severios, Thomas Mor Thimothios and Joseph Mor Grigorios - has been set up to oversee the administrative affairs.
Baselios Thomas I had earlier informed the Patriarch about his decision to step down.
It is said the Catholicos handed over the resignation letter owing to some friction in the Church.
In his letter, a copy of which is with the Manorama News, to the Patriarch, the Catholicos said, “Factionalism has caught hold of the Church and that is hazardous to its unity and peace. These fissures would weaken the community. I hope that priests and the faithful would overcome the differences of opinion, and serve the Church. Due to these reasons, I have decided to retire from the post of Catholicos and step down as the Metropolitan Trustee. The charge of all the assets and institutions has been handed over to the respective official units. I would like to bring to your attention that there are no outstanding financial dues for the Church. The audited reports of the Church have been handed over to the association.”
The Catholicos, however, said that he would continue as the Metropolitan of the Angamali diocese.
In the letter, Baselios Thomas I also mentioned that attempts were made to defame him via social media. He cited a letter released on April 26 by priest trustee* Fr Sleeba Vattavelil Chorepiscope and lay trustee C K Shaji as proof of this. He said such ‘vengeful’ letters to misguide the faithful were ‘extremely hurtful’.
(*The priest trustee, whose role is different from that of a lay trustee, is a significant position in the church administration.)