Jordan Times
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Jordan approves dismissal of
Irineos I
AMMAN (AFP) — The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the dismissal of Jerusalem's Greek
Orthodox Patriarch Irineos I over a controversial land sale, a government
spokesman said.
“The government has approved the decision taken by the patriarchate,” said Ali
Al Ayed after a Cabinet session.
The patriarch has been awaiting a final dismissal notice after being effectively
turfed out of office by his own flock Saturday when 12 out of the 18 bishops
making up the Holy Synod voted for his removal.
“We have completed the process of removing Irineos as patriarch,” Patriarchate
Secretary Aristarchos told journalists in East Jerusalem on Sunday. “For us, he
is now considered as the ex-patriarch.”
Irineos was dismissed because of a multimillion-dollar transaction in which
ideologically motivated Jewish businessmen acquired church land in a
predominantly Palestinian area of the Old City in annexed East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Authority has said it is waiting for the Jordanian decision,
while Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sent a delegation earlier Tuesday to
meet with Irineos I. “The government of Israel recognised the patriarch, Irineos
I, and it is neither an umpire nor a judge between the different parties,” the
prime minister's office said in a statement.
Purchasing property in the Old City is fraught with political tensions as Jewish
groups often try to obtain properties in Palestinian areas in a major settlement
drive.