Greek Orthodox Church Names Temporarily Replacment For Irineos

Published by the Associated Press, May 30, 2005

Greek Orthodox Church Names Temporarily Replacment For Irineos As He Seeks To Block Removal

JERUSALEM May 30 (Associated Press)- Leaders of the Greek Orthodox church in the Holy Land unanimously selected a temporary replacement for its embattled patriarch on Monday, even as he maneuvered to block his removal by striking a deal with his alienated Palestinian flock.

The Greek government, meanwhile, turned up the already fierce pressure on the patriarch, Irineos I, to resign, issuing him a new passport that changed his title to "former patriarch," Greek Foreign Ministry officials said.

For the past two months, Irineos has been embroiled in a controversy over the long-term leasing of choice church property to Jews trying to expand the Jewish presence in disputed Jerusalem. Reports of the leases have aroused the furor of the Palestinians who make up most of the flock, because Palestinians claim the eastern sector of Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, and deplore Jewish encroachment there.

Irineos has repeatedly declared he would not step aside, even though the controversy has prevented him from wielding the powers of a patriach. World Orthodox leaders, in a special meeting in Istanbul last week, decided they would no longer recognize him. Bolstered by that vote, the Holy Synod in Jerusalem on Monday named Archbishop Cornelios, the head of the church's ecclesiastical court, to take Irineos' place until a permanent replacement is found.

Cornelios also served as temporary patriarch before Irineos' appointment nearly four years ago.

Legally, though, church leaders cannot dismiss him: Only the governments in areas where his flock lives Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority have the power to do that, by withdrawing recognition of him.

Jordan did so last week, in a decree signed by King Abdullah. For now, Israel says it won't support anyone who opposes, in principle, the sale of property to Jews in east Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Authority seems to support the rebels. However, a Palestinian official said Monday that the Palestinians' main objective is to cancel the property deals, and that it matters little to the Palestinian government who serves as patriarch.

Irineos is trying to take advantage of that indifference. On Monday morning, he met with Samir Huleileh, the Palestinian Cabinet secretary, according to an Irineos aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The patriarch has hired attorneys vetted by the Palestinian Authority to try to revoke the property transactions, according to the Palestinian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue.

Aides to the patriarch said that in exchange, the Palestinian Authority assured Irineos it would not withdraw recognition. Palestinian officials did not confirm that claim independently.

The church has said its land deals were conducted by its former financial officer, Niko Papadimas. Papadimas vanished several months ago, and has European arrest warrants against him. Irineos has insisted he didn't know about the leases.



Volume 7 Number 22 - Tuesday, May 31st, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY