Jordan Times
Wednesday, October 3, 2001

Thousands celebrate induction of Irenios I as patriarch

By Suha Ma'ayeh

The ceremony at Sweifieh's Church of the Presentation of the Lord was part of the day's celebrations marking his induction in Amman at the first such event in the history of the patriarchate.

Dressed in his ceremonial crimson robe and holding the shepherd's cane Irenios I was inducted as the 140th patriarch of the world's oldest Christian establishment.

The ritual brought together top church delegates from the world's Greek Orthodox Churches of Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Russia, Romania and Palestine in addition to Jordanian clergy, church representatives and government officials.

Banners welcoming the patriarch fluttered across streets leading to the ornate church, while schoolchildren waved Jordanian flags along with the patriarchate's red and white flags symbolising the illuminating light emanating from Christ's holy tomb.

The Amman celebrations came a few weeks after Irenios I was officially inducted at a major celebration at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Earlier yesterday, scores of Jordanian Greek Orthodox clergy, church representatives and followers of the denomination greeted the patriarch after he crossed the King Hussein Bridge upon his arrival from Arab East Jerusalem earlier yesterday.

Later, the patriarch met with His Majesty King Abdullah as part of his three-day visit to the Kingdom.

“There is a strong Arab and international interest in the patriarch's visit to the Kingdom,” Archimandrite Christofos Hanna of the Greek Orthodox archdiocese told The Jordan Times.

“The region boasts important pilgrimage sites that belong to the patriarchate,” he said.

Hundreds of Greek Orthodox followers also took part in a half-hour religious march from Amman's Sheraton Hotel to the church as part of the festivities.

Since his election, the patriarch embarked on a reform campaign for the church, attempting to diffuse tensions between the Patriarchate and its followers.

In a surprise move, he appointed Jordanian Archbishop Sylvistros Alfar as a member of the Holy Synod, or the governing body of the church. The synod of 17 senior clerics has long been dominated by the Greeks.

The move was welcomed amongst Christian circles in Jordan, especially that some felt the Greek clout overshadowed the predominantly Arab element in the Patriarchate.

Church sources said Irenios I, whom Israel sought to disqualify from an election list, has appointed advocates to look into the status of the Patriarchate's properties — a long contentious issue between the church and Arab followers.

Since its establishment in 451 AD, the church has acquired some of the finest land in Jerusalem, but some followers charge that the Israeli government is believed to be a major lessee of those lands.

Rumours of shadowy deals between the church and Israel simmered in the months leading up to the elections.

“The patriarch has assigned lawyers to investigate the issue of leasing and selling the church's real estate to Israel,” Hanna added.

“Once he gathers the evidence, he will publicly disclose the status of the Patriarchate's property.”

Although Irenios I's election was officially approved by Jordan and the Palestinian National Authority, Israel has not done likewise.

Press reports from Ramallah claimed that Israel is exercising pressure on the new patriarch to relinquish the church's property.

“It is part of an Israeli tactic which cannot be undermined. But the patriarch will work to secure the interests of the church and safeguard its properties,” Hanna said.

The Jewish state first attempted to influence the election by banning 5 prelates from a list of 15 candidates, but later it backed off.

Irenios I's induction in Amman, church officials say, reflects the Patriarchate's commitment to the 1958 Jordanian law naming Jordan as the custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem.

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