Church leaders reportedly dismiss Patriarch over property row

(7 May 2005)

Jerusalem
1. Exterior of Greek Orthodox patriarchate, Israeli police standing outside
2. Various of priests entering patriarchate
3. Greek Orthodox priest talking to police officer
4. Greek Orthodox priest walking through Old City
5. Various of Israeli police
6. People outside patriarchate
7. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Archmandrite Atallah Hannah, Greek Orthodox Church spokesman:
"Yesterday an official decision was made by the Holy Synod to dismiss the Patriarch Irineos I and that is because we think he is not capable and not competent enough to lead this church. Therefore we were forced to take this decision. Yesterday evening the Holy Synod met and chose a committee of three to deal with the issue of what will happen after the departure of Irineos I and to make all the necessary arrangements to choose a new patriarch."
8. People on streets

Ramallah, West Bank
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Marwan Tubasi, Chairman of the Arab Orthodox Institution in Palestine:
"This is an achievement based on the hard work that was done by the Arab Orthodox institutions in Palestine and as well the stand and position of all the Palestinian people at large over here in the Palestinian area. As well, we shall not forget, of course, the hard work of the members of the Holy Synod, the Brotherhood, even the Greek bishops who stand and had a position with us as an Arab Orthodox people over here in Palestine against the latest deeds of lands that were made by Patriarch Irineos, against the corruption inside the patriarchate, against the neglect of our aspirations as Arab Orthodox congregation in Palestine and the neglect of the Arab Orthodox clergymen as well."
10. Tubasi at his desk

STORYLINE:

The fate of beleaguered Greek Orthodox Patriarch Irineos I was shrouded in confusion on Saturday, with rebel clergy saying he had been fired but supporters insisting he was still in charge.

Irineos returned to his living quarters in Jerusalem's Old City before dawn on Saturday, hours after senior church officials said they had voted to dismiss him for his alleged role in a controversial property deal.

However, other clergymen said Friday's decision was not valid.

The patriarch can only be ousted by the 17-member Synod, the Church's highest decision-making body.

The patriarch's supporters say only he can convene the Synod, and that Friday's vote among top clergy, including members of the Synod, was held without the patriach having called the meeting.

Rebel clergy said they decided to dismiss Irineos because of allegations he was involved in leasing church property to Jewish settlement groups in east Jerusalem, the sector claimed by the Palestinians as their future capital.

A church spokesman, Archmandrite Atallah Hannah, said the Holy Synod had been "forced to take this decision" and that an acting patriarch would be elected next week.

The Chairman of the Arab Orthodox Institution in Palestine, Marwan Tubasi, said the reported dismissal was "an achievement" and was in accordance with the "stand and position of all the Palestinian people".

However, Irineos's supporters within the clergy, said only Jordan's attorney general could decide whether Friday's decision was valid, and that until he had done so, the patriarch remained in charge.

The Church complies with a 1958 Jordanian law that bans any sale of church land and property.

Jordan ruled east Jerusalem and the West Bank until Israel seized the territories in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.



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