Ioannis Baltzoi*: The death cry of the former Patriarch of Jerusalem
In the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, one of the most reliable in the country, posted article by Nir Hasson with the revealing title "Exiled and sick, the Patriarch, once one of the most powerful figures in Jerusalem, only wants to return home.", that is, in Greece. In the article in question, the Israeli journalist refers to his fall from the throne 14 years ago, due to the major scandal that shook the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem.
At that time, a scandal had erupted over the sale of two hotels, the Petra and the Imperial, near the Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem. A case that recently reached a final decision in Israel’s Supreme Court, where the legality of the sale was recognized, ultimately securing ownership of the two hotels in the Israeli nationalist organization Ateret Cohanim. This concluded a long-standing dispute between the Patriarchate and the organization in question.
The shocking events of 2005 led, for the first time in the ecclesiastical annals of the Orthodox Christian Religion, to the dethronement of a Patriarch (the then Patriarch of Jerusalem Irenaeus) and his demotion to a simple monk. The dethronement was carried out by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the then convened Synod. And not only that. Irenaeus was forced to remain confined, essentially without being allowed to leave, in a small apartment in the building complex of the Patriarchate, in the Christian sector of the old city of Jerusalem.
He was fed and received his necessities from an Arab family, who provided him with everything he needed, putting them in a basket from the street and Irineos would drag them to the second floor of his small apartment!
According to the Israeli journalist, his health has been dramatically shaken and yet, "even now, on his deathbed, he continues to fight against his replacement, the current Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, who, he claims, is bothering him.", as the Israeli journalist characteristically states.
The Patriarchate's claims
According to the article, as well as testimonies from Irenaeus' associates and supporters, his health has been shaken by the harsh living conditions imposed on him, and they are now asking that he be allowed to return to Greece. There he will be able to recover, or live out the rest of his life in a monastery that has been converted into a rehabilitation center for sick and elderly clergy and monks.
The former Patriarch receives the care of Archimandrite Chrysostomos, abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. Gerasimos, in the Dead Sea.
Irenaeus’ supporters say that his opponents in the Patriarchate, on the orders of the Patriarch, are preventing even this final act of compassion. His passport is in their hands and they refuse to let him leave. The Patriarchate denies these allegations, stating that his passport is in the Greek Consulate and that when it is returned to them they will hand it over to Irenaeus. Of course it is strange, why the passport of a Greek citizen is not in his possession, as it should be, and why the Patriarchate is withholding it, claiming that it is in the Greek Consulate in Jerusalem!
For several years, Irenaeus has suffered from a serious lung disease and has been hospitalized several times. Two weeks ago, he was admitted to the hospital and was released a few days later. He claims that the Patriarch gave orders for him to be admitted to the Deir Hajla Monastery near Jericho for recovery. Irenaeus' supporters say that the real goal of this was to make him suffer and shorten his life.
«My body cannot withstand the heat of Jericho, where I was taken against my will.", Irinaios wrote in an emotionally charged letter to the Greek Consulate. In the past two weeks he has been transferred to the monastery twice and hospitalized twice. His supporters say that during this time Irinaios decided to return to Greece.
As they claim, this does not mean that Irenaeus is giving up his claim to be recognized as the legitimate Patriarch, but rather that his move is more of an attempt to save his life. It is noted that a small group of monasteries and religious communities in Greece called the “Spiritual Family” has remained loyal to Irenaeus, and two nuns belonging to this group have come to Jerusalem to care for him.
The Greek Consulate refuses
After Haaretz contacted the Patriarchate for comment on the case, officials from the Greek Consulate went to Irinaios’ room in the hospital to interview him. Due to his illness and medication, he was not fully lucid and answered all of their questions with a single word: “no,” including the question of whether he wanted to return to Greece.
His supporters say he was in a bad physical and emotional state and did not understand the situation. Irenaeus’s true desire, they say, was made clear in the letter he sent three weeks ago to the Consulate in Jerusalem, as well as to the Prime Minister of Greece and several ministers.I request that my passport be returned to me immediately.", he wrote. He also asked to be transferred to a special monastery in Greece, so that he could be under constant monitoring and care.
In the letter, published in the Haaretz newspaper, he lists all the injustices that have been done to him, explains the reasons why he is innocent and that his dethronement is illegal. One of the nuns of the “Spiritual Family” says that the Consulate refused to accept the letter because he signed it as “Patriarch Irenaeus” and they do not recognize him as Patriarch. “We told them: He is a Greek citizen. Why don't you accept the letter? They took the letter, went inside and a little later came out, saying that they are not willing to accept it.", says.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate rejects the allegations
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate rejected the allegations of mistreatment of Irenaeus and the confiscation of his passport. In fact, two days after Irenaeus' letter was sent to the consulate, to everyone's surprise, the Holy Synod convened in an extraordinary session and made the important decision to recognize Irenaeus as a former Patriarch, restoring some of his honor, as he had been ordered to be treated as a simple monk.
Irenaeus’ supporters say, however, that this was simply a move to keep Irenaeus close, prevent him from going to Greece, and restore the image of the Patriarchate.The current Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos is worried that in Greece [Irenaeus] could get well and start talking about the agreements [for the sale of Patriarchate properties]».
Here we should mention that the current Patriarch Theophilos is also accused of having literally sold off part of the Patriarchate's real estate to strange Off Shore Israeli companies. In the last 2-3 years, however, major demonstrations have erupted in the Palestinian territories by Palestinian Orthodox Christians. He has even been banned from presenting in many Churches both in the territories of the Palestinian Authority and in Northern Israel, in Galilee.
Theophilus' dealings
The sale, which has outraged the Palestinians, involved 85 plots of land in Jerusalem, covering hundreds of acres and of particularly high value. Some of these plots are part or all of very expensive neighborhoods such as Talabiya, Rehavia, Baka and Katamon. Hundreds of buildings have been built there in recent decades, as well as important residential and commercial complexes, such as the Wolfson Towers, the Neve Granot neighborhood, the “Garden of the Bell” (Gan Hapaamon), the Great Synagogue and the Jerusalem railway station. The agreement was signed personally by Patriarch Theophilos III. You can get informed from relevant articles (Read articles by signatory for property sales).
In response, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate stated: “The Patriarchate is taking care of all the needs of the former Patriarch of Jerusalem Irenaeus, who is seriously ill. We have a duty to take care of all our friends and ensure that they receive the highest level of professional care. The Patriarch of Jerusalem and all the clergy will continue to support the former Patriarch and his family during this difficult period. We pray for his speedy recovery. We are currently taking care of renewing the visa and passport of the former Patriarch at the Consulate and expect them to be ready in the coming days."However, there was no comment from the Greek Consulate in Jerusalem.
As it seems, the dispute that began 14 years ago, for other reasons, continues even today with a relentless dispute between Patriarchs, the former and the current. The sales of real estate on behalf of the Patriarchate existed, exist and will exist and are the fuel that has maintained and maintains for centuries the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, with a leading position in the Holy Land.
The sale of the two hotels by Irenaeus is negligible compared to the vast areas sold by the current Patriarch Theophilos. That is why he is today essentially Persona non Grata perhaps in most of the areas inhabited by Orthodox Palestinians. That is why he does not dare to appear in these areas.
Even the role of the Greek Consulate in Jerusalem is considered strange with possible expediency. Nevertheless, we would like to see calm, forgiveness and love, for the good of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, the former “Order of the Great Ones”. The continuous mistakes of the leaders, the Fathers, but also of the Greek State, caused the essence of its name (Order of the Great Ones) and not only to be lost.
* Ioannis Athan. Baltzoi is a Lieutenant General (ret.), former Defense Attaché in Tel Aviv, former ECMM Operations Officer in the Bosnian War, a graduate of the Tactical Intelligence School (US Army), with a Master's Degree (M.Sc.) in Geopolitical Analysis, Geostrategic Composition and Defense and International Law Studies from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Institute for Strategic Studies (ELISME).
Sources: HAARETZ Newspaper of 17/8/19 (www.haaretz.com)
Articles by the same (I. Baltzoi) about the Patriarchate of Jerusalem
1. http://www.analystsforchange.org/2017/07/blog-post_219.html
2.http://www.analystsforchange.org/2017/07/blog-post_246.html
3.http://www.analystsforchange.org/2017/07/blog-post_669.htm