Kochi (Kerala, India), SVM News, September 8, 2007: An 81-year-old village bishop of Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church was severely beaten and hospitalised on August 29 at Kanjiramattam in Ernakulam district of Kerala state, India.
Mathews Pulimoottil Cor-episcopa, 81, the village bishop and the vicar of the Kajniramattom St. Ignatius Orthodox Syrian Christian Church was severely beaten on Wednesday by an anti-social and a drunkard called Baby of Kaniyamparmbil. Suspecting there was an ati-social gang behind him.
The elderly bishop was attacked on the public road near his house while going back home from the church after the funeral of a member of the parish.
The accused slapped on his face several times and he was fallen down on the road. At that time he threshed his chest and hands and kicked him again.
The accused has been escaped when the people reached to the sopt.
Bishop severely injured and admitted at the Kolenchery Medical College. He still at the hospital and continue treatment.
"Mathews Cor-episcopa yet to be recovered. There are still some internal injuries in his body. So he suffer body aches. He finds very difficult to pick up even a pen, because one of his hands also threshed," Doctor Vinod said the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.
After hearing this news, bishop's wife Kunjamma Mathew, 77, became seriously ill and admitted at Chottanikkara Tata hospital.
Sudheesh Kumar, the Deputy Superintendant of Police in Muvattupuzha, Kuriakose, Circle Inspector of Piravam and Yunus Kunju, Sub Inspector of Mulanthuruthy are investigating the case. They have arrested the accused, but released on bail due to the political pressure.
Thankachan, Baby, Prince and Sojan are the sons of Bishop Mathews Cor-episcopa.
St. Ignatius Orthodox Syrian Church has more than 1500 members in the parish. Bishop Mathews Cor-episcopa is its vicar. He is also the vicar of Elamkulam Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church in Kochi, where more than 2000 members as the parishoners.
Since last 55 years of priesthood, Mathews Cor-episcopa served about 40 parishes as vicar in Kochy, Kottayam, Niranam, Malabar and Knanaya Dioceses of the Indian Orthodox Church. All the church congregations were having more than 1500 members each as parishoners.
His Holiness Baselios Marhoma Didymos I, the Catholicos of the East and the Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Church alongwith Paulose Mar Militheos, the Catholicos Designate and other bishops visited him at the hospital. He condemned the incident.
"Persecution towards Christians and minorities are being continued by the support of government and police authorities. Mathews Cor-episcopa is one of its last victims," Catholicose of the East said.
Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the director of Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards village bishop. He visited him in the hospital.
Mathews Pulimoottil Cor-episcopa, 81, the village bishop and the vicar of the Kajniramattom St. Ignatius Orthodox Syrian Christian Church was severely beaten on Wednesday by an anti-social and a drunkard called Baby of Kaniyamparmbil. Suspecting there was an ati-social gang behind him.
The elderly bishop was attacked on the public road near his house while going back home from the church after the funeral of a member of the parish.
The accused slapped on his face several times and he was fallen down on the road. At that time he threshed his chest and hands and kicked him again.
The accused has been escaped when the people reached to the sopt.
Bishop severely injured and admitted at the Kolenchery Medical College. He still at the hospital and continue treatment.
"Mathews Cor-episcopa yet to be recovered. There are still some internal injuries in his body. So he suffer body aches. He finds very difficult to pick up even a pen, because one of his hands also threshed," Doctor Vinod said the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.
After hearing this news, bishop's wife Kunjamma Mathew, 77, became seriously ill and admitted at Chottanikkara Tata hospital.
Sudheesh Kumar, the Deputy Superintendant of Police in Muvattupuzha, Kuriakose, Circle Inspector of Piravam and Yunus Kunju, Sub Inspector of Mulanthuruthy are investigating the case. They have arrested the accused, but released on bail due to the political pressure.
Thankachan, Baby, Prince and Sojan are the sons of Bishop Mathews Cor-episcopa.
St. Ignatius Orthodox Syrian Church has more than 1500 members in the parish. Bishop Mathews Cor-episcopa is its vicar. He is also the vicar of Elamkulam Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church in Kochi, where more than 2000 members as the parishoners.
Since last 55 years of priesthood, Mathews Cor-episcopa served about 40 parishes as vicar in Kochy, Kottayam, Niranam, Malabar and Knanaya Dioceses of the Indian Orthodox Church. All the church congregations were having more than 1500 members each as parishoners.
His Holiness Baselios Marhoma Didymos I, the Catholicos of the East and the Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Church alongwith Paulose Mar Militheos, the Catholicos Designate and other bishops visited him at the hospital. He condemned the incident.
"Persecution towards Christians and minorities are being continued by the support of government and police authorities. Mathews Cor-episcopa is one of its last victims," Catholicose of the East said.
Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the director of Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards village bishop. He visited him in the hospital.
Contact Mathews Pulimoottil Cor-episcopa to his Mobile: 0091-949-551-4745; 0091-924-979-0804.
news (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews245.html
news (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews245.html
1 comment:
The attack on the elderly priest is condemnable. Fortunately, the Christians cannot blame the Hindu fanatics for the incident.
P.N.BENJAMIN
Coordinator
Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue(BIRD)
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