Kochi, August 1, 2019: The Synod of the Jacobite Church has used secret ballot to elect Joseph Mor Gregorios as the metropolitan trustee.

However, the general body of the Malankara Association will take the final call on the new Metropolitan before the name gets endorsed by the Patriarch of Antioch, Iganatius Aphrem II, the head of the Church.

Church sources said that on July 31 Mor Gregorios polled 12 votes while the other two contenders, Mor Themotheos and Mor Severios secured four and two votes respectively. In all, 19 metropolitans attended the Synod and one vote was invalid. Seven metropolitans were absent ostensibly because they were abroad.

Church organizations had suggested using secret ballot to elect the new metropolitan trustee. Although the Malankara association could contest the election, there is every chance the name would be accepted, a Church official said.

The final election of the metropolitan trustee will most likely take place on August 28 when the Malankara Association general body meets. The position of the metropolitan trustee was left vacant after the head of the Jacobite Church in India, Baselios Thomas I, told the Patriarch of Antioch his desire to step down from all positions.

The Jacobite Church is going through a bad patch following the recent Supreme Court directive to the Kerala government to implement its order on rights over churches where both Orthodox and Jacobite factions claim authority.

Source: thehindu.com