Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and supreme head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, on February 27, 2026, at his New Delhi residence to address the century-old Malankara Church dispute between Jacobite and Orthodox factions.
Meeting Key Outcomes
Modi expressed the Centre’s commitment to resolving the conflict through dialogue rather than litigation, proposing a special committee for negotiated settlement. Discussions also covered global religious intolerance, minority persecution, and micro-minority rights for Syrian Christians.
Attendees and Context
Present were Jacobite Catholicos Baselios Joseph I, Delhi Metropolitan Kuriakose Eusebius, BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and Twenty20 coordinator Sabu M Jacob—who facilitated outreach to both factions. The Patriarch praised Modi’s global peace initiatives.
Dispute Background
The Malankara schism pits Jacobite Syrian Christians (under Antioch Patriarch) against Malankara Orthodox, entangled in Supreme Court battles since 1934 over 2,000+ churches and assets. Modi’s intervention signals potential federal mediation.
Broader Implications
Beyond church unity, talks addressed constitutional protections amid Kerala’s charged politics ahead of polls. Catholicos Joseph clarified no political motives; focus remained spiritual reconciliation.
