Orthodox Leaders to Confer on Jerusalem Land Scandal

The most important figure in Orthodox Christianity, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, has convened a rare gathering of the leaders of all Orthodox Churches to “confer and reach decisions” regarding the embattled Patriarch of Jerusalem Irineos I and his alleged involvement in a clandestine land deal.

Patriarch Irienos has consistently denied allegations that he secretly gave Church land in the primarily Palestinian Old City of Jerusalem to Jewish investors.

The alleged transaction prompted his bishops and mostly Arab flock to call for him to step down. Bartholomew had unsuccessfully called for the resignation of Irineos a day earlier.

Senior clerics representing 15 Orthodox churches are expected to meet on Monday, although a spokesman said that they could not directly depose Irineos.

However, their refusal to recognize the Patriarch would put great pressure on him to resign, according to the Associated Press.

Leaders who will attend the Pan-Orthodox Synod are mostly from Europe and the Middle East. The Jerusalem Patriarchate is also expected to attend, according to the Macedonian Press Agency.

When asked by Greek reporters in Jerusalem if he would attend the Istanbul meeting, Patriarch Irineos answered, “Why shouldn’t I?” according to AP.

In a related development Irineos filed a complaint with Israeli police on May 15, alleging that his former church financial officer, Nikos Papadimas, swindled the church out of money, according to AP.

Papadimas ran away months ago after using the power of attorney to sign the controversial real estate deal. He took $800,000 with him, according to Irineos. The statement also accused Papadimas of “suspicions of money laundering.”

Compounding the pressure on Irineos to resign, church tradition also requires that the chief powers in the area - Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Jordan - recognize him. The latter two want Irineos to resign. Israel has not taken sides in the matter.