Haaretz
Tamuz 13, 5765
The Greek Orthodox Synod
will convene in Jerusalem Wednesday to begin procedures for electing a new
patriarch in place of Irineos I, who was deposed by church authorities
over a scandal involving church real estate.
The Jerusalem District
Court Tuesday rejected Irineos' petition for a temporary injunction
voiding the election several weeks ago of Metropolitan Cornelius as acting
patriarch in his place. He also asked the court to prevent the synod
meeting, on the grounds that he had been illegally deposed.
Many
of the 17 senior bishops who make up this council are expected to present
their candidacies for the permanent post, a step that will likely put an
end to Irineos' attempts to remain as patriarch. Cornelius, as acting
patriarch, is expected to submit the list of candidates for approval by
the governments of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan. Once
approval has been obtained, a new patriarch will be chosen through an
internal procedure.
Judge Michaela Shidlowsky Or accepted the
argument put forward by Mazen Kopti, lawyer for Cornelius and the clerics
who decided on Irineos' ouster, and ruled that "deciding on a matter
relating to a religious sect in Israel is not within the court's
jurisdiction."
Shidlowsky Or said that Irineos "concealed from the
court" that he had submitted a similar petition to the Haifa District
Court, which was rejected. She also ordered Irineos to pay Kopti's legal
fees.
That judicial approach is diametrically opposed to that of
the Israeli government, which is holding off on removing its recognition
of Irineos, thereby intervening in practice in the affairs of the Greek
Orthodox Church. There could shortly be a situation in which there is one
patriarch who is recognized by Israel, and another elected patriarch in
need of Israel's approval.
In an effort to maintain good relations
with Israel, Archbishop Aristarchos, one of Irineos' rivals and a
candidate to replace him, told Haaretz that the opening of procedures to
elect a new patriarch does not contradict Israel's position, since these
are preliminary steps that are expected to continue for awhile, during
which time Israel's official stance on the matter will likely be
clarified.
After the church removed Irineos from his post, Jordan
and the PA ceased recognizing his authority. At this point, only Israel
recognizes Irineos as Patriarch of Jerusalem.