A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 7 Number 25 - Tuesday, June 21st, 2005 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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The Orthodox Christian Laity
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The Orthodox Christian News Service |
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To The Editor: With all the rhetoric in the Greek press about the deplorable situation plaguing the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the most blatant issue is being ignored. The fact is that the overwhelming majority of its faithful are Arab Orthodox Christians, not Greek. Unfortunately, Greek bishops and a Greek Patriarch govern the Jerusalem Church. These Greeks assume an arrogant colonial posture, and see themselves primarily as custodians of the Holy Sites, not shepherds of a flock. While the Catholic and Protestant churches have spent huge sums to build schools, erect churches and support clergy, the Greek hierarchy has misappropriated millions and have virtually neglected their Arab Orthodox constituents. Thousands of Arab Orthodox have converted to Catholicism and Protestantism because of the schools, better educated clergy and Arab leadership those churches have provided. The insidious, detrimental mindset which characterizes so many Greek hierarchs is the obsession that preserving Hellenism, and in this case, Greek Colonial dominance, supercedes promoting Orthodoxy. What a travesty. In reference to Ambassador Theros impugning the motives of Antiochian Metropolitan Philip Saliba in last week’s viewpoint, that hierarch is a highly respected member of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of America. His concern is primarily the egregious and chronic neglect suffered by the Arab Orthodox at the hands of the Greek Synod. Historically, the Patriarchate of Antioch (now in Damascus, Syria) was occupied by Greeks up to 100 years ago. Only after the installation of a line of Arab Patriarchs did that church emerge from its decadence and begin to flourish. For Orthodoxy to survive within the Jerusalem Patriarchate, an Arab Patriarch and hierarchy are an immediate imperative. Respectfully submitted,
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