Patriarch captive of own church in East Jerusalem

Published Date: 08 January 2011

By JOSH LEDERMAN

Six years ago he was the patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church in the Holy Land. Today, Irineos I claims he is a prisoner in the church's Old City compound in Jerusalem, trapped by the successor who ousted him in a dispute over the sale of church property to Israeli settlers.

Reporters who tried to gain access to the former leader of Israel/Palestine's 100,000 Orthodox followers through the compound's huge metal door were denied entry by church guards peering out through a crack.

But Irineos spoke on Thursday through a wireless microphone hoisted at the end of a rope to his roof - in the same black shopping bag supporters use nightly to deliver him groceries.

"They allow nobody out and nobody in to visit me," he said. "They are afraid of the people because I'm loved by the people, and I love the people," he said into the microphone, peering over the edge of his roof.

It is a harsh comedown for a man who led his flock for four years as a revered figure. Irineos said his successor, Theofilos III, would not allow lawyers, doctors or visitors to enter the home he has lived in for almost 40 years. He said he had been trapped there for three years for refusing to concede the patriarchate.

The church deposed Irineos in 2005 over allegations he signed a deal handing over church properties to Jews who seek to increase their presence in predominantly Arab East Jerusalem.

Palestinians consider sale of land to Jews a serious crime, and most Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem are Palestinians.

Irineos has said he was unaware of the transactions and did nothing wrong. A report for the Palestinian Authority in 2005 concluded he did not participate in any sales. 

He said: "I ask God every day to reveal the truth. I'm the patriarch."

Feuds inside the Greek Orthodox community have turned vicious in recent years. A patriarchate official denied Irineos was under house arrest, and aides to Theofilos declined to comment. 

Marwan Tubasi, head of the Council of Arab Orthodox Organisations, said: "The new patriarch is punishing the old one, keeping him behind closed doors to secure his position."

Irineos said he was spending his days praying, reading and writing. He still wears the traditional black garb and hat of Greek Orthodox clergy.

As Orthodox Christians celebrated Christmas on Thursday, Irineos said he performed Mass by himself, banned from entering a church a few steps away. 

Abu Amar, a Palestinian Muslim, said he had been hauling bread, vegetables and water by rope up to the former patriarch for almost three years. Despite their different religions, he felt a humanitarian urge to help.

"I had a good relationship with him, and I still do," Amar said. "I cannot neglect him."