Kottayam: The Bishop of the Kottayam diocese of Jacobite Syrian Christian Church Thomas Mar Themothios was removed from the post by a decision of the Church synod at Puthencruz on Thursday.
The charge of the diocese has been taken over by Catholicos Baselios Thomas I. It was for the first time that a bishop of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church was being suspended, though temporarily.
The bishop has been asked to stay away for six months.
In the early part of last year, Kuriakose Mar Cleemis, Bishop of Idukki, was expelled from the Jacobite Church following a decision by the Catholicos and the synod.
Jacobite Church sources said that the Kottayam bishop had been relieved of his charge following a difference of opinion on the holding of church property in his personal name.
There has been a consensus within the Jacobite Church that the bishops or clerical hierarchy should not hold church property as private property.
The Kottayam bishop is also learnt to have lost the support of a large number of priests under him.
(Source: The Hindu)