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Published
by Haaretz.com,
November 22, 2005
Theofilos
sworn in as new Greek Orthodox Patriarch in
Holy Land
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By The
Associated Press
Surrounded by hundreds of hushed supporters
crowded into one of Christianity's holiest sites,
Theofilos III was sworn in Tuesday as the new
Greek Orthodox Patriarch in the Holy Land, despite
Israel's delay in approving the appointment.
Theofilos succeeded Irineos, who
was ousted in May amid allegations he leased
church land in East Jerusalem to Jewish groups
interested in expanding the Jewish presence there.
The long-term leases enraged the church's
predominantly Palestinian flock, which claims East
Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
World Orthodox leaders stopped
recognizing Irineos' authority in May, but he
continued to resist demands to step aside, saying
a former aide signed the leases without his
knowledge. Theofilos, who had been the
metropolitan of Tabor in the Galilee, was elected
to replace Irineos in August by the church's Holy
Synod in a 14-0 vote.
Theofilos had served previously as a Greek Orthodox Church envoy
in Qatar and reportedly has close ties to the
Greek Orthodox leadership in the United States.
Installation of a new patriarch
traditionally requires the approval of Israel,
Jordan and the Palestinians. Jordan and the
Palestinians have approved Theofilos' appointment,
but an Israeli committee was still deliberating.
Church officials voiced optimism
the crisis would be solved soon.
"We hope Israel will
recognize him, because all the Orthodox world and
neo-Orthodox world has recognized him," said
Christodoulos, a metropolitan at the Greek
Patriarchate in Jerusalem.
He said the church had good
relations with Israel, but asked that the country
not involve itself in the inner workings of the
church.
The Foreign Ministry did not
respond to a request for comment.
Theofilos, which means
"God's friend" in Greek, was installed
in a ceremony Tuesday morning inside the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher, which stands over the reputed
sites of the crucifixion of Christ and the tomb
where he was buried.
Hundreds of clergymen,
worshippers and tourists flocked into the ancient
church, clapping and waving Greek and Cypriot
flags as Theofilos strode down the aisle for his
anointment. The crowd repeatedly chanted "Axios,"
Greek for "you are worthy."
"It gives real spiritual
insight," said Marina Emmanouil, 35, who came
from Athens to attend the ceremony. "I don't
think I will have the chance to see this again in
my life."
Dozens of black-garbed clergymen
then marched in a procession toward the Greek
Patriarchate, accompanied by a heavy police
presence through the winding streets of the Old
City of Jerusalem for a ceremony attended by Greek
President Karolos Papoulias.
Irineos, who continues to occupy
the patriarch's quarters, did not attend the
ceremonies.
Christodoulos compared Irineos
to the late Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu
and deposed Iraqi tyrant Saddam Hussein.
"We are a democracy and we
will not be led by a man who is mentally
ill," he said. "The brotherhood rejected
him. No one can bring him back."
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