The Synod Deed renouncing Mr. Eirinaios with 75 signatures by clerics so far
(
09.05.2005
)
The situation in Jerusalem remains unsettled following yesterdays’ incidents and whilst awaiting the official stances of Jordan and Israel concerning the renouncement of Patriarch Eirinaios. Today, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew intervened in the crisis. With a message to Mr Eirinaios, he asked him not to proceed with any hasty actions, including a convocation of the Holy Synod, as this would further aggravate the current situation. Actually, in his address, Mr Bartholomew referred to him as "Patriarch Eirinaios" and not "Patriarch of Jerusalem". In the meantime, the Jordanian Government has allegedly inform the Patriarchate’s Synod that it will be co-signing the Synod Deed renouncing Eirinaios, while the Palestinian Authority has already declared that it is in favour of the Holy Sepulchre members.
Eirinaios Receives Pressure
In his letter to Mr Eirinaios, Mr Bartholomew addressed him in the way that the Ecumenical Patriarchate addresses clerics who, for some reason, have been deprived of their powers and rights.
Therefore, the Patriarch is indirectly accepting the assumption of all Jerusalem Patriarch affairs by the three-member committee nominated by the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood.
In his message, he asked Mr Eirinaios not to proceed with a Synod convocations, as announced earlier, pointing out that it would be a minority Synod, which would create further problems and would deepen the crisis plaguing the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
It is worth noting that the number of high priests and clerics who signed the deed rises to 75. Out of a total of 18, 15 Synod Hierarchs have also signed it, while the total number of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood rises to almost 100 people.
The tragic developments at the Patriarchate led Israeli police to intervene in order to scale back the tension. In particular, the Israeli police sealed off the entrance to the financial service offices with their own lock and anyone who wishes to go in will have to be escorted by a police officer. What is more, in the case documents or money need to be taken from the Patriarchate's treasury, a member of the Synod (which opposes the Patriarch) and a person representing the Patriarch will also have to be present.
At the same time, the city's Police Chief asked the Israeli government to explain from whom should the Police take orders – the Patriarch or the Synod, which is currently handling the Patriarchate affairs.
What is more, another issue the Israeli government should examine is how the presidential office should move regarding the 1958 Jordanian law and if the latter is part of national legislation through which any government who have the right to decide over the Patriarch's fate. Israeli experts submitted a report to the Israeli government supporting that Israel ought to accept that law.
On Sunday, the three Synod heads, Messrs Kornilios, Timotheos and Isichios met with members of the Palestinian Authority, including president Mahmud Abbas, whom they informed on the latest developments. After the meeting, Mr Abbas said he takes the side of Synod Hierarchs, supporting that if such a big group of hierarchs oppose the Patriarch, then there has to be some right in their positions.
As per exclusive NET radio 105.8 information, a representative of the Israeli government met on Sunday with the three-member committee of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the presence of the Synod's head secretary, Archbishop Aristarchos of Konstantine, whom they informed on the latest developments.
Informs ERT: http://news.ert.gr/en/newsDetails.asp?ID=7723,
http://news.ert.gr/en/newsDetails.asp?ID=7701
