New patriarch sabotages Israel's Christmas party

Irineous

JERUSALEM – The man enthroned last month as Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem in spite of Israeli objections tried yesterday to sabotage the Jewish state's presidential Christmas party, telling priests to boycott the event, WND has learned.

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Theofilos III skipped the official gathering along with several priests, according to Irineous, who is recognized by Israel as patriarch.

"The priests were afraid to defy Theofilos," Irineous told WND. "They thought if they went to the party they would start a conflict with him."

Theofilos III was crowned in November in a ceremony at Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, even though Israel at the time was debating whether to recognize him as the official Jerusalem patriarch – the religious leader of 100,000 Christians in the Holy Land.

Israel still has not made a decision, awaiting the results of a Supreme Court case regarding whether Theofilos defied Israeli law during his candidacy.

Theofilos III

Theofilos is attempting to succeed Irineos, who church officials tried to oust in May by holding new patriarchal elections amid allegations Irineos leased church land in Jerusalem to Jewish groups. The leases, signed last year for a period of 98 years, include two hotels that comprise a large section of the Jaffa Gate, the principal entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem.

The property transfer enraged the church's significant Palestinian membership, who claim Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.

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Israeli President Moshe Katsav held a Christmas gathering at his residence yesterday afternoon for some of the country's top religious leaders. Theofilos' invitation addressed him only as "Father," while the invitation for Irineous called him "Patriarch."

"Theofilis is continuing to behave in such a way that he is making trouble for the patriarchate," Irineous said.

Irineous still lives in the church's patriarchal quarters and carries out official state religious duties, including addressing local Christian congregants and sending holiday messages to churches in other countries.

As WND first reported prior to his election as patriarch, Theofilis signed a secret document obliging him to nullify the recent sale to Jewish groups of land comprising much of the Jaffa Gate, a key entrance to Jerusalem's Old City, and allegedly has made statements against Jews living in certain parts of Jerusalem.

For Jews in Jerusalem, the issue of control over the Jaffa Gate real estate is crucial. Several previous American peace proposals calling for the division of Jerusalem granted authority over key city sections on the basis of real estate ownership.

Theofilos, along with other candidates for patriarch, signed a secret church document stating that if elected he would nullify all transactions made by Irineos, including the Jaffa Gate lease. The leases, signed last year for a period of 98 years, include two hotels that comprise a large section of the Jaffa Gate, the principal entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem.

The document, addressed to the Palestinian Authority and obtained by WND, states, "We, the candidates of the Greek Orthodox Church, hereby agree that we are obliged to abide by the law of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. ... In the event that we are elected, we shall act for the cancellation of all transactions made during the period of Irineos I, and shall keep the Orthodox religious trust."

High-placed sources close to the church said the document was drafted by a PA government minister with the cancellation of Irineos' lease of the Jaffa Gate hotels to the Jewish groups as the specific goal.

"The candidates were essentially blackmailed by the Palestinians that if they didn't sign the document and cancel the lease, they would not get approval of the PA as candidates and could not run in elections," a church source told WND. "This is an outright racist policy against the Jews. If peace proposals come through and Jerusalem is ever divided, the Palestinians want Jaffa's Gate, but Irineos' lease would give it to Israel."

A senior church leader close to Irineos told WND, "Theofilos has made statements about not providing Jerusalem land to Jews. He agrees with the Palestinians that they have the rights to eastern Jerusalem."

Theofilos was elected in August by the church's Holy Synod, the supreme canonical authority in the church, in a 14-0 vote.

Installation of a new patriarch requires the approval of Israel, Jordan and, traditionally, the Palestinian Authority. Both Jordan and the PA have approved Theofilos. But Israel says Theofilos failed to comply with official Israeli election procedures.

Irineos said he could not comment on the secret document regarding nullification of the Jaffa Gate sale, but said "there is a lot at play here in the election of Theofilos and attempts at deposing [me]."

"The electorate was blackmailed into supporting Theofilos. They were told by Fathers and Brotherhood members and others that if they didn't vote for Theofilos, they would be kicked out of the church. Documents were made to be signed, including a letter that said 'I will not stand with Irineos.'"

Irineos said he will not step down as patriarch, and is "eagerly awaiting" the Israeli supreme court decision.

A lobbyist involved in the patriarchal elections who spoke with WND on condition of anonymity – claiming that speaking on the record may place him in danger – said, "There were very clear indications Arab politics were at play in the Synod's deciding to elect Theophilos. There was direct blackmail involved."

The lobbyist continued: "The document Theofilos and the other candidates signed is racism, pure and simple. The church has a very large Palestinian and Jordanian Arab constituency. The only reason the church wants the Jaffa Gate lease nullified is because it signed over Jerusalem land to Jews."

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