Embattled: Patriarch Eirineos

Published by The National Herald, April 1, 2005

ATHENS – With only a few weeks to go until Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate Easter, Patriarch Eirineos of Jerusalem’s personal trials and tribulations have evolved into a full-blown international crisis, putting the future of Hellenism’s time-honored presence in the Holy Land in jeopardy.

The latest in a series of problems, which have recently plagued the Patriarchate, involves the alleged sale of prime properties, in predominantly Arab areas of Jerusalem, to Jewish business interests. Patriarch Eirineos has fervently denied authorizing the sale of Church property in the Holy Lands to any buyer, their nationality notwithstanding.

However, the mere suggestion of such a transaction having taken place was enough to anger a significant segment of the Holy Land’s Arab population, as it is feared that this would strengthen Israeli control of the greater Jerusalem area.

Over the last few days, scores of Orthodox Christian Arabs have staged protests against the Patriarch, while some of the demonstrators even entered the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to express their outrage at the possibility of a covert deal having been struck between the Israelis and the Patriarchate. A sit-in, which had originally been threatened by certain radical elements among the protesters, was avoided at the last minute. Perhaps most worrying for the future of Hellenism’s interests in the Middle East was the Palestinian legislative body’s decision to request the removal of the Greek flags which are currently flown at all the Patriarchate’s monasteries and properties.

In an apparent effort to avoid any direct confrontation with Greece (a nation which has historically maintained close ties with the Arab world) as a result of the aforementioned request, the Palestinian Authority’s spokesman in Athens, Ishmat Sambri, rushed to state that the lowering of the Greek flags from the Patriarchate’s properties in Palestinian-controlled areas "was out of the question," and that the Palestinian Authority had no intention of questioning Greek authority of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. Moreover, Mr. Sambri added, there is no question of "Arabizing" the Patriarchate, and referred to all the relevant speculation as nothing more than "unfounded and dangerous banter."

The Israeli authorities also appear to have no intention of questioning the centuries old Greek rights in the region. Asked to comment on the current situation in which the Patriarchate finds itself, Israeli Ambassador to Athens Ram Aviram stated that "the State of Israel supports maintaining the status quo," and that it does not question the Greek character of the Patriarchate.

Jordan was the latest nation to enter the fray, asking for the formation of an investigative committee to examine the alleged sale of property by the Patriarchate to Israelis. Furthermore, Jordan's King Abdallah invited Eirineos to Amman for consultations in order to examine ways to help resolve the problem. Many of the properties in question are located in areas which had been under Jordanian administration prior to the Arab-Israeli war of 1967.

Meanwhile, several members of the Jerusalem Patriarchate’s clergy have openly requested Patriarch Eirineos’ resignation, claiming that this is the only way to resolve the crisis. In a written statement signed by 20 mid-level clergy members, this position is justified as follows: "Due to the fact that doubts regarding the conduct of Patriarch Eirineos have had an adverse effect on the Patriarchate, we call on him to resign before he endangers the birthright of our people in the Holy Land."

It was aniticipated at press time that, in the upper ranks of the Patriarchate’s hierarchy, a total of ten Metropolitans were to publicly call for Eirineos’ resignation before week’s end. According to Greek National Radio, in addition to Archbishops Aristarchos of Konstantini, Korinthios of Petra and Damaskinos of Ioppi, who have already done so, a further seven were expected to express such a request in writing very soon.

But Patriarch Eirineos insists he never authorized the sale of any of the Patriarchate’s properties, and went so far as to publicly state, "If I have ever signed any such document, let my hands be cut off."

In an official statement, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem described the power of attorney given to its former employee Nicos Papadimas as "null and void," as it had not been approved by both the Patriarch and the Holy Synod, as required.

Specifically, the statement notes that "the potential purchaser or seller of property of such strategic significance must know that, in order for any such transaction to be valid, it is necessary to secure the explicit consent of both the Patriarch of Jerusalem Eirineos and the Holy Synod."

The statement also emphasizes that "any purchaser or seller who has not asked for written permission and consent of both the Patriarch and the Synod, is acting deceitfully and maliciously, and any transaction concluded therein is deemed to be invalid."

In an interview with the Greek press last weekend, Papadimas, a former financial advisor of the Jerusalem Patriarchate (now a wanted fugitive, as he is accused of having embezzled over $800 thousand in Church funds prior to his disappearance), essentially confirmed the Patriarch’s claims that no properties have been sold.

Papadimas stated that he had, in fact signed a long-term lease on the properties in question by Jewish investors, but he denied allegations he had embezzled Church funds. Specifically, Papadimas claimed that he "was only following orders, but sold nothing," and that "all he had been authorized to do was to sign long-term lease deals," of which Patriarch Eirineos, "was fully aware."

A delegation of Greek diplomats and Foreign Ministry legal experts visited Jerusalem last week in an attempt to defuse the crisis although, according to initial reports, it was unable to come to definitive conclusions or make any recommendations. The Greek Foreign Ministry’s was expected to issue a report on the situation.



Volume 7 Number 14 - Tuesday, April 5th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY