How Fr. Mathews Manalelchira‟s name came in the Media ...

How Fr. Mathews Manalelchira‟s name came in the Media
REALITIES OF HAPPENINGS IN ST.MARY‟S JACOBITE CHURCH
COIMBATORE.
Does not the loyalists of the sabha in the church , fighting a listless battle to safeguard the church
properties from a microscopic group of disgruntled elements in the church bent upon pledging the
church assets and make it a haven for Anti Sabha activities of Indian Christians of all shades
including the Pentecost and the “Orthodox” factions, deserve justice Let the reader‟s judge.
The brief history of the parish and the problems faced, in a nutshell are as follows.
The Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians of Coimbatore formed a fellowship among
themselves in the year 1982 and found a place of worship in rented premises at Ukkadam, and
christened it in the name of St.Mary‟s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox church. Later this fellowship was
strengthened in to an association in the name and style of “THE JACOBITE SYRIAN
CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION‟ which remains as, an unregistered association till date, by virtue of
Sec. 5 of the T. N. Societies Registration Act.This Act provides for Optional Registration.
Now there are about 152 members in the Association. Regular elections are held, for the
selection of office bearers, every year, for all the posts other than the President. The post of
President is earmarked for the vicar of the Church appointed by the Diocesan Metropolitan of the
parish. The society purchased 15.5 cents of land in Kannappa Nagar, in the 1989.The church was
built on this land in 1992 .Another adjacent plot of 4 cents in Kannappa Nagar and declaratory
rights over 64 cents of Corporation Burial Ground in Puliakulam, also exists for the Society. The
entire assets of the Church and the Association vests with the Elected managing Committee of our
Association. Right from 1982, while the spiritual affairs of the church was conducted in the name
and style of „St Mary‟s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, the temporal matters were conducted
under the name and style of „The Jacobite Syrian Christian Association”, Coimbatore. The silver
jubilee of the Church/ Association was celebrated with great pomp and pride in 2007.Till, this
time, everything went on well. This is a blessed church, having gifted to the Holy Sabha one
Metropolitan and two priests, serving in different parts of India.
It is pertinent to mention here, that Mr. P.I.Varghese, who is at present, the Secretary of the
newly formed rival Association (formed in May, 2009), is none other than the person, who was
reluctantly elected as Trustee, for the year 2008-2009, at the suggestion of the then Metropolitan,
to avoid split in the Church. Mr.Varghese had already earned the ill will of the entire committee
and the majority of the Parishioners, when he officiated as Trustee, the previous year. He had
shown an inability to function in a democratic set up. This was because of his authoritarian attitude
and false belief that the TRUSTEE wields veto power even in spiritual matters.
The Annual General Body meeting of 22.3.2009, with the main agenda of electing the new
office bearers for the coming year 2009-2010, was successfully sabotaged. During, the course of
the meeting, some unscrupulous elements circulated copies of an anonymous letter, , among the
members .These letters contained fictitious charges of character assassination on all probable

candidates, likely to be elected. When confronted, the person circulating the letters, revealed that
the letters were given to him, with instructions to circulate by Mr. Reji Abraham, s/o Mr,N.K.
Abraham. The General Body, let Mr Reji off, with a warning not to repeat any such activities. The
meeting was then adjourned. The matter was reported to Bava Thirumeni. Thereafter, H.B issued a
Bull directing that the meeting should be conducted on29.3.2009, with “election of new office
bearers for 2009-2010” as the only point on the agenda.
The meeting was held on 29.3.2009 and office bearers were elected. This was subsequently
approved by HB. Some of the members of our Association, including Mr. P.I.Varghese, who were
defeated in the election FOR 2009-2010 held on 29.3.2009, got frustrated, conspired to wreak
vengeance against the current office bearers .They began to create disharmony among the Jacobite
Syrian Christians in Coimbatore. They fraudulently chose the name of our association as their
name and registered the same. This, they did by presenting a memorandum, by showing our place
as their Registered Office address, under the Societies Registration Act. It is not known whether
they did this by deceit or collusion. It is to be noted that the Office bearers of this registered
society registered under No.166/2009 have neither title nor possession of the place shown as their
registered address. BESIDES, THE REGISTRATION HAS BEEN DONE WITHOUT THE
KNOWLEDGE OR APPROVAL OF THE GENERAL BODY OF THE CHURCH OR WITH
APPROVAL OF THE SABHA.
The fraudulent registration by the Rebel Breakaway Group of 7, with different objectives
from the Parent Association has already created disharmony, hatred and ill feeling among the
Jacobite Syrian Christians in Coimbatore. Breakaway Group have ,in their constitution, further
thrown open the membership of their Association, strictly meant for Jacobite Syrian Christians, as
the name suggests, to all Indian Christians, thereby creating an explosive situation fraught with
communal disturbances, between different sections of the Syrian Christian Community of
Coimbatore.
The main intention of the Breakaway Group is to grab the assets and declaratory rights of
our association. Besides, this registration helped them in blocking our rightful registration, in the
future. After registration of their Association on 24.6.2009, their first activity was to forcefully
erect their name boards in the church and cemetery premises in order to grab the properties of the
church. This naturally resulted in police complaint and civil proceedings to lawfully establish our
rights. Eventually an ad interim injunction was granted by the Hon Dist. Munsiff, Coimbatore
prohibiting the Rebel Association members and office bearers in anyway interfering with our right
of peaceful enjoyment of our property
On 19.7.2009, when the Gereral Body meeting was in progress, Mr. P.I.Varghese and
Mr.Reji Abraham had abruptly left the meeting after creating chaos at the meeting. This was on the
insistence of the Vicar directing the duo, first to sign in the attendance book, before making any
submission in the meeting. Thereafter they returned with outsiders, and tried to fix their notice
board on the wall of the Church office/parsonage. The whole General Body members were agitated
and in the explosive situation that was prevailing then, anything could have happened. The tactful
handling of the issue by the vicar, Fr. Mathews Manalelchira saved the situation from
deteriorating. Rev Fr Mathews ordered all our members to get in to the church, promising that we

would solve the situation strictly through legalmeans and work out a peaceful solution. The
situation was thus diffused.
On 8 th august evening, while Achen was preparing for the evening prayers, the two trouble
makers came to the church along with the Sub Inspector of police, Thudiyalur. They directed
Achen to come to the police station. Achen, along with all the managing committee members went
to the police station and apprised them of the correct position. Hearing this, the Inspector warned
the duo to thank their stars, for had the Managing committee given the complaint for trespass, they
would have been in dire straits.
Thereupon, the entire Managing Committee went to Puthencruz, humbly requested HB to
deal with the situation. H.B. was kind enough to ask the Sabha secretary to see to the case. The
Sabha Secretary together with H.G. Kuriakose Mor Clemis, the then asst Diocesan Metropolitan,
was kind enough to spare two hour of his valuable time for solving this problem.They finally said,
that irrespective of the anti Sabha and fraudulent nature of the registration, it is still valid, unless
set aside by the Court of law. Left with no other alternative, and the General Body accusing the
Managing Committee of inaction, we were forced to seek legal remedy, so that the issue could be
thrashed out in a peaceful manner.
Of late, it is noticed that a spate of anonymous letters are being sent to high church
dignitaries and other church vicars and Government offices. This is full of baseless and wild
charges, with clear intention to defame and bring to disrepute church dignitaries and dignified
members of the Managing Committee. Even, H.H.Patriarch of Antioch was also not spared in
these letters. In order to arrest this derogatory trend, and in the larger interest of communal
harmony, we made representations before District Supt of Police, Commissioner of Police and also
to Dist. Collector, Coimbatore, in person, praying for necessary action .This was done to warn the
concerned persons, who are suspected to be members of the newly registered Association, to
behave in a civilized manner and to desist from such practice and let the law take its own course.
Recently the appeal filed by them against the Munsiff court judgment, has been summarily
dismissed by the court of Sub Judge/Appellate Court, confirming the lower court judgment.
Besides direction was given to them that the renovation work being carried on in the Church with
the approval of the Sabha shouldn‟t be disturbed at any cost.
H.B. Baselios Thomas I, the Catholicose and our Doicesan Bishop, on the basis of the
report submitted by the Inquiry commission sent by H.B., and on the report of the Asst.
Metropolitan, who inaugurated the ceremonial commencement of the renovation work on 6th Jan,
2010, has issued a Bull, containing stern warning to the devotees not to have any connection with
the Group of seven .This has proved to be a great morale booster for the suffering members, who
have been enduring pain and insult for over an year.
It is in these circumstances, when the rebel group had no choice but to surrender, that our
newly appointed Asst. Metropolitan H.G.Isaac Mor Osthatheos took charge and visited the church.
We are grateful to H.G for having visited the church thrice in this short period of 5 months.

First was an exploratory visit to study the situation. After, the departure of the Bishop,a
significant event followed. Two of the Rebel 7 member gang, sick of the unlawful activities of
Mr.Varghese and Mr. Reji Abraham, and fearing imminent action, resigned from the primary
membership of the ill-fated Association and sent a copy of their resignation letter addressed to the
Registrar of Societies and to the Vicar and President of our Association.
Another event of significance happened in the meantime. Achen impressed on all church
members the desirability of getting their Veedu koodasa done before the Penticost Sunday. He also
offered to do the service for the Rebel group of seven also, if they so wished. Accordingly, on the
invitation of Mr. N.K.Abraham, the Chairman of the Rebel Association, Achen, along with an altar
boy, went to do the House warming on 22 nd May. During the Koodasa, when one room was
opened to put the cross mark, Mr. Reji Abraham, along with a lady with him were found in the
room. After the Koodasa, a torrential verbal attack was mounted on the Achen by Regi Abraham
and the lady, in the presence of his father for more than an hour. Achen kept his cool, in spite of
the great provocation, and the situation was saved because of the presence of mind of the Achen.
During the next visit of Thirumeni, HG chose to call the two, who had resigned from the
Rebel Association and ascertained their stand. The Managing Committee does not know what
transpired. However it is learnt that Mr. Varghese, who was called over the cell phone, to see the
Thirumeni, excused himself saying he was away at Kumbakonam. Thirumeni, who was already
aware of the verbal assault on Achen, at the committee meeting ,approved the show cause notice to
be issued to Mr. N.K.Abraham to call for the relevant records as regards his son Reji Abraham‟s
marriage, if any and warning of action by the Sabha, if no adequate explanation is given. This was
the prevailing situation, when Thirumeni made his third visit.
During the third visit, in connection with the ceremonial commencement of the Madhbaha
renovation on 13.6.2009, Thirumeni thought it fit to call Mr.Varghese and Mr.Regi Abraham,
(against whom Prohibitory injunction is in force,) and who are the Secretary and Asst.Secretary of
the Rebel Association,( now reduced to 5), probably to ascertain their viewpoint.
Any way, they used this occasion very cleverly to lay a trap to involve H.G in a criminal
case, for which there is sufficient proof .As the matter is sub-judice, the proof will be presented at
the appropriate time and place. .Unaware of all these, Thirumeni was closeted with these two, and
after one hour discussion, Achen was called in. This was followed by a vicious verbal attack on
Achen by theduo using unprintable, obnoxious language. Mr. Reji was in a highly agitated mood
as his wanted target was right in front. H.G. remaining spell bound, not used to such situation. HG
asked Mr. Reji to talk slowly as what he was using unparlimentary words. Thereupon, Mr. Reji
started using more abusive words even affecting the modesty of family members. The poor vicar,
in his anxiety to shield H.G from the situation, tried to close the mouth of Mr.Reji forcefully, as he
could not think of any other alternative at that time.
Mr. Regi Abraham, as planned, lost no time in turning the situation in his favor. He quietly
got himself admitted in the hospital, obviously to create evidence and filed a police complaint. He
used this opportunity to tarnish the image of the Achen, making the print media give wide adverse

publicity, after making them believe that he was the Asst. Secretary of the church Association,
while in fact the Court has prohibited him in even entering the church premises, in his capacity as
Asst. Secretary of the 5 member Rebel Association.
Alas, Fr.Mathew Manalechira, who has been facing worse situations during the past one
year, ever since he took charge of the parish in June 2009, from these two incorrigible men of
questionable background, has been handling the situations with great care and tact, forcing
discipline with iron hand, without any fear for his life. He has at every instance prevented the
agitated church members from manhandling them. Probably due to cruel turn of fate, he has fallen
a victim in the discharge of his priestly duties. His humility is revealed, when he himself offered to
receive whatever punishment is meted out to him by H.G, so that his conscience will be clear.