Kerala couple ties symbolic knot after church denies ‘vivaha kuri’

Express News Service

KOTTAYAM:  What might need scripted historic previous by being the first-ever marriage to complete the observe of endogamy throughout the Knanaya Catholic group ended up as a mere symbolic gesture. The much-awaited bridal ceremony of Justin John and Vijimol Shaji was carried out symbolically after the Knanaya Church refused to issue the ‘vivaha kuri’, the final word approval from the church.

Irked by the church administration’s last-minute manoeuvring, Justin’s family and the reformers group throughout the Knanaya group are set to maneuver the High Court, citing contempt of courtroom docket. Justin, a member of St Anne’s Church, Kottody, Kasaragod, beneath the Knanaya Archeparchy of Kottayam, was slated to marry Vijimol of St Xavier’s Church, Kottody, which falls beneath the Thalassery archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, on Thursday.

Justin John, Vijimol Shaji after their
symbolic marriage outside St Xavier’s
Church at Kottody in Kasaragod

Though Knanaya Catholic Church has been following endogamy observe, citing purity of blood, the Church authorities agreed to offer permission to Justin to marry a non-Knanite as per diversified orders of the High Court and reduce courts.

In view of courtroom docket orders, Justin was given ‘kuri’ for his betrothal ceremony, held on April 17. Taking into account potential laws and order factors in Justin’s private parish in view of the approved battle between the Church and the reformers, the marriage was organized on the bride’s parish, St Xavier’s Church, Kottody. For the sacrament of marriage at a Syro-Malabar Church, Justine should get a ‘kuri’ from his private parish.

However, after the extreme drama unfolded on the eve of the marriage, the St Anne’s church vicar refused to issue ‘kuri’ for Justin’s bridal ceremony. Since the church’s permission was compulsory for Justin to retain his membership throughout the Knanaya Archeparchy of Kottayam, the marriage sacrament could not be completed. Instead, Justin and Vijimol symbolically married outside St Xavier’s Church by transferring garlands.

“As per the Canon law, a person has all the right to get the sacrament of marriage. It shouldn’t be hindered following a lapse on the part of the church. I have completed all the preparations for the marriage by attending a pre-marriage course and making a confession. I also got ‘vivaha kuri’ for my betrothal. There is no reason for the denial of ‘kuri’ for my wedding,” Justine acknowledged.

Justin added that he was denied marriage sacrament for taking a stance to complete an evil observe throughout the Church. “It was not a stand against God or the holy Bible. I stood against ousting people from the Knanaya Church for marrying a non-Knanite,” he acknowledged.

Justin acknowledged he would technique the courtroom docket to get his marriage sacrament from his private parish. Meanwhile, the Knanaya Catholic Naveekarana Samithi (KCNS), a reformation group that leads the approved battle to complete the endogamy observe, will even file a contempt of courtroom docket case throughout the High Court in direction of denying ‘vivaha kuri’ to Justin. “Denying the ‘kuri’ amounts to contempt of court. We would approach the court,” acknowledged T O Joseph, president of KCNS.

Meanwhile, the Knanaya archeparchy clarified that the church didn’t do one thing in violation of the orders of the courtroom docket. “We are committed to abide by the court orders. The KCNS was trying to portray that the church violated court orders. For that, they spread false things among the public,” acknowledged Fr Michael Vettikkatt, the spokesperson of the Knanaya archeparchy of Kottayam.

“We had given ‘vivaha kuri’ for Justin’s betrothal ceremony. However, Justin failed to submit relevant documents and complete the required procedures. We need to complete the Canonical procedure for a marriage,” Fr Vettikkatt acknowledged.

KOTTAYAM:  What might need scripted historic previous by being the first-ever marriage to complete the observe of endogamy throughout the Knanaya Catholic group ended up as a mere symbolic gesture. The much-awaited bridal ceremony of Justin John and Vijimol Shaji was carried out symbolically after the Knanaya Church refused to issue the ‘vivaha kuri’, the final word approval from the church.

Irked by the church administration’s last-minute manoeuvring, Justin’s family and the reformers group throughout the Knanaya group are set to maneuver the High Court, citing contempt of courtroom docket. Justin, a member of St Anne’s Church, Kottody, Kasaragod, beneath the Knanaya Archeparchy of Kottayam, was slated to marry Vijimol of St Xavier’s Church, Kottody, which falls beneath the Thalassery archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, on Thursday.

Justin John, Vijimol Shaji after their
symbolic marriage outside St Xavier’s
Church at Kottody in KasaragodThough Knanaya Catholic Church has been following endogamy observe, citing purity of blood, the Church authorities agreed to offer permission to Justin to marry a non-Knanite as per diversified orders of the High Court and reduce courts.googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.present(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

In view of courtroom docket orders, Justin was given ‘kuri’ for his betrothal ceremony, held on April 17. Taking into account potential laws and order factors in Justin’s private parish in view of the approved battle between the Church and the reformers, the marriage was organized on the bride’s parish, St Xavier’s Church, Kottody. For the sacrament of marriage at a Syro-Malabar Church, Justine should get a ‘kuri’ from his private parish.

However, after the extreme drama unfolded on the eve of the marriage, the St Anne’s church vicar refused to issue ‘kuri’ for Justin’s bridal ceremony. Since the church’s permission was compulsory for Justin to retain his membership throughout the Knanaya Archeparchy of Kottayam, the marriage sacrament could not be completed. Instead, Justin and Vijimol symbolically married outside St Xavier’s Church by transferring garlands.

“As per the Canon law, a person has all the right to get the sacrament of marriage. It shouldn’t be hindered following a lapse on the part of the church. I have completed all the preparations for the marriage by attending a pre-marriage course and making a confession. I also got ‘vivaha kuri’ for my betrothal. There is no reason for the denial of ‘kuri’ for my wedding,” Justine acknowledged.

Justin added that he was denied marriage sacrament for taking a stance to complete an evil observe throughout the Church. “It was not a stand against God or the holy Bible. I stood against ousting people from the Knanaya Church for marrying a non-Knanite,” he acknowledged.

Justin acknowledged he would technique the courtroom docket to get his marriage sacrament from his private parish. Meanwhile, the Knanaya Catholic Naveekarana Samithi (KCNS), a reformation group that leads the approved battle to complete the endogamy observe, will even file a contempt of courtroom docket case throughout the High Court in direction of denying ‘vivaha kuri’ to Justin. “Denying the ‘kuri’ amounts to contempt of court. We would approach the court,” acknowledged T O Joseph, president of KCNS.

Meanwhile, the Knanaya archeparchy clarified that the church didn’t do one thing in violation of the orders of the courtroom docket. “We are committed to abide by the court orders. The KCNS was trying to portray that the church violated court orders. For that, they spread false things among the public,” acknowledged Fr Michael Vettikkatt, the spokesperson of the Knanaya archeparchy of Kottayam.

“We had given ‘vivaha kuri’ for Justin’s betrothal ceremony. However, Justin failed to submit relevant documents and complete the required procedures. We need to complete the Canonical procedure for a marriage,” Fr Vettikkatt acknowledged.