Jerusalem has a patriarch

The intronization of Theophilus III took place, despite the intrigues of the authorities, the solemn ceremony of intronization was held yesterday in the temple of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The patriarch was put on a mantle by the stone anointing, then he bowed to the holy coffin in the chapel-wool.

In the Church of the Resurrection, he was erected to the patriarchal throne and handed the bishop's rod. This part of the ceremony was held under the exclamations of Axios (“worthy of” Greek) all pilgrims, as well as President of Greece Carlos Papulas, representatives of the Palestinian autonomy and envoys of all the Orthodox churches of the world. The Russian Church was represented by Archimandrite Elisha, the head of the Russian Spiritual Mission, and Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kalinigrad Cyril. The envoy of the Jordanian king, in whose jurisdiction the Jerusalem Patriarchate is located, read out the "Veration" - certifying the election of the letter of King Abdullah Bin Hussein. The ceremony was also attended by the Supreme Mufti of Jerusalem.

On the way from the temple of the coffin to the patriarchal residence of the Patriarch, pilgrims greeted and showered the chosen one with rose petals.

Theophilus’s first words to the flock were the words of gratitude to God, who “brought the Jerusalem Church from the Great Crisis, shocking the whole body of the Church”, which in view of the deposition of his predecessor Irenaeus I.

For two years, Israel refused to recognize Patriarch Irinea. Non -recognition automatically freezes the accounts of the patriarchy, which practically paralyzes the functioning of its structures. Finally, recognition was given. But not even six months had passed, as in the Israeli press the Patriarch was accused of what he sold for bribes or leased the land of the church. The scandal did not stop, despite the fact that no documents were presented. Irenaeus was deposited by the conciliar decision, and Theophilus was chosen. All Orthodox churches on the Synod in Istanbul approved this decision. However, the Israeli authorities announced that they did not recognize the deposition of Irenaeus and, accordingly, the election of the new Patriarch.

“The non -recognition of Feofil Israel creates a problem,” explains the secretary of the Jerusalem Synod Archbishop of Konstantinsky Aristarchus, confident that sooner or later the decision would be found. “Israel would have acted wisely, recognizing a new situation.”

So far, nothing speaks in favor of a close resolution of the situation. Shortly before intronization, the Prime Minister of Israel, Sharon, sent a notification to Patriarchate that Irenaeus remains the only recognized head of the Patriarchate. From the predecessor Feofil also got other old problems, to which Christians are powerless on the Holy Land. Many clergy of Patriarchate, serving in parishes, for years can not get a residence permit. And the establishment of an 8-meter fence around Israel cut many Christian shrines, in particular, the Church of Christmas in Bethlehem, from pilgrims and from the Orthodox Arabs of Gaza.

Patriarch Theophilus III is 55 years old, in 2001-2003 he served on the Jerusalem courtyard in Moscow, after that in Qatar.

11/22/2005 / Nadezhda Kevorkov, the material was published in the "newspaper" No. 222 dated November 23, 2005.