Edinburgh: The Scotland police have released the body of Father Martin Xavier Vazhachira to his congregation the Carmelite of Mary Immaculate(CMI).
Fr. Tebin Francis, whom the CMI order as well as Fr. Martin’s family have entrusted with coordinating procedures is leading the efforts to complete the formalities for repatriation.
It is understood that once the death certificate and documents from the Indian Embassy are obtained, the body will be flown to Kerala by the beginning of next week. Fr. Francis will accompany the body to his village Pulinkunnu, Kerala.
Jose K Mani, who represents Kottayam in Lok Sabha, lower house of the Indian parliament, has also spoken to the Indian Commissioner of Britain on July 27 about speeding up the formalities for repatriation.
33-year-old Fr. Martin’s body was found at a beach in Edinburgh, nearly 50 km away from St John the Baptist’s Church, Corstorphine, where he served since October 2016. His body was since held by Scotland police to complete an autopsy and further investigation into the cause of death. The Scottish investigators are yet to release the report or announce the cause of his death.
Father Martin Xavier Vazhachira was a native of Pulincunnu parish of Changanacherry archdiocese in Kerala. He was ordained a priest in 2013. He arrived in Scotland in July 2016 in order to undertake post-graduate studies at Edinburgh University.
Father Martin’s funeral is being planned at Sacred Heart Monastery at Chethipuzha in Changanacherry.