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Published by
Haaretz.com, April 16, 2005
Sharansky
working to end rift between Greek, Armenian
clergy |
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By
Yuval Yoaz,
Haaretz Correspondent
Minister Without Portfolio Natan Sharansky is
trying to reconcile the Greek Orthodox and
Armenian clergy to enable the peaceful performance
of the Sabbath of Light ceremony in the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
The High Court of Justice on Thursday debated an
urgent petition filed by the Armenian patriarch,
Archbishop Torkom Manoogian. Sharansky, who was
appointed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to
reconcile the sides, apparently persuaded both
patriarchs to sign a commitment calling on the
public to refrain from violence. Police have
warned that violence during the ceremony could
lead to numerous casualties.
The Sabbath of Light ceremony is held on the last
Saturday before Orthodox Christian Easter at the
Holy Sepulchre church in the Old City. Both
communities believe that a divine flame descends
from the sky on this day and lights the oil lamp
standing on Jesus' tomb. Orthodox Easter falls on
May 1 this year.
Attorney Eitan Epstein, who represents the
Armenian Patriarchy, says both sides had
maintained the status quo in conducting the
ceremony together for hundreds of years. However,
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Irineos I, who was
appointed in 2002, refused to let Manoogian leave
the tomb area first during the ceremony, as is
customary. In the scuffle that erupted, the "holy
fire" from Manoogian's candles was extinguished.
Now the Greek Orthodox Patriarchy refuses to let
the Armenian representative enter the tomb chapel
at all, demanding he wait outside the chapel and
light his candles from Irineos' candles. "It's a
scathing humiliation to the Christian Armenian
world," said Epstein.
If Sharansky fails to reconcile the two sides by
next Tuesday, the court will have to rule on the
Armenians' request for an injunction ordering the
police to hold the ceremony in the traditional
way.
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