Future

Published by The National Herald, August 28, 2005

Eirineos' Ecclesiastical Future Unclear

NEW YORK – An Israeli first instance court said last Sunday, August 21, it would issue a ruling over a last-ditch motion filed by deposed Jerusalem Patriarch Eirineos, who has refused to accept his dismissal, to prevent the election of a new Patriarch this past Monday.

The ruling, according to the court, was to be issued an hour before the ecclesiastical election of Metropolitan Theophilos of Tabor in Galilee was held. Both sides – attorneys for Eirineos, now cashiered to the rank of a monk, as well as representatives of the temporary Synod administering the Patriarchate of the Holy Land – presented their case before the Israeli court.

Monday’s election of Theophilos, who has now succeeded Eirineos as Patriarch of Jerusalem, was held without incident.

Last Sunday’s legal challenge was the latest initiated by Eirineos, who was ousted in late May after months of sharp criticism stemming from the long-term leasing of Patriarchate properties in East Jerusalem to Jewish investors.

Reports of the East Jerusalem property sale aroused the furor of the Palestinians who make up most of the Church in Jerusalem’s flock.

Eirineos’ chances to prevent another candidate’s accession to Jerusalem’s Patriarchal throne were slim, however.

Last month, on July 19, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the new Synod, as well the procedures taken to proceed with the election of a new patriarch, were legal, thus dismissing charges brought by the former Patriarch to the contrary.

The Israeli court not only rejected Eirineos’ case, it also fined him 15,000 shekels ($3,350) to pay for court fees.

Earlier that day, the Palestinian Authority had recognized Metropolitan Cornelios of Petra as locum tenens (acting patriarch) of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. According to analysts, both events effectively gave the go-ahead to the Patriarchate’s Nominating Council to convene the next day.

Cornelios subsequently released a list of candidates for the post to the governments of Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli Supreme Court’s ruling against Eirineos was viewed essentially as a way for Israel to distance itself from the former Patriarch. Israel is the only country had not refused recognition of Eirineos as Patriarch of Jerusalem after the former Patriarch was deposed.

A Palestinian Authority committee of inquiry had also cleared Eirineos of accusations that he was involved in leasing church property to Jewish investors.

"Based on the information we obtained, we found no evidence to incriminate Patriarch Eirineos I over the deal," the Palestinian investigators said in a report on July 4 in the Palestinian newspaper, Al-Quds. "He did not take part in the transactions at any stage, and did not receive any money," they added.

The decision had temporarily made Eirineos’ position even murkier, since legally the governments of Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority must confirm his dismissal. Only the Jordanian Government had taken that step.

The committee’s findings initially raised the hopes of Eirineos’ supporters that he might be able to hold onto his position, despite being disowned in May by leaders of the world’s Orthodox churches and deposed by his own bishops over the land scandal even as he maintained his innocence.

Eirineos has emphatically insisted he was not involved in the controversial land deal, and has alleged that his signature had been forged by a former aide, Nicos Papadimas, who is on the run from the police.

Eirineos refused to relinquish his office even though the Holy Synod of Jerusalem had appointed a temporary replacement. He had continued to stay at his official apartment since his deposition, but was effectively prevented from entering the Patriarchate by the Synod’s bishops.
Tensions ran high in July.

A brawl broke out between supporters and opponents of the beleaguered former Patriarch on July 13, after Eirineos returned to his Old City office.

Police were forced to separate the two sides, and one officer was lightly injured in the late afternoon scuffle, which erupted after Eirineos’ opponents stormed into his office, Jerusalem police said.

Two clergymen were arrested for assaulting police officers. Police said Eirineos remained in his office after order was restored.

The above incorporates information from reports published in the July 26 and July 14 issues of the Christian Century (vol. CXII, no. 15, "Palestinian Inquiry Says Deposed Patriarch Not Tied to Land Deal") and Jerusalem Post ("Brawl Erupts as Eirineos Returns to Jerusalem Office"), respectively.



Volume 7 Number 35 - Tuesday, August 30th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY