Orthodox discipline

last updated 8 January 2015

Istanbul

In a rare display of unity, the patriarchs of the main Orthodox Christian churches voted this week to stop recognizing the patriarch of Jerusalem, Irineos I. Patriarch Irineos plunged the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem into crisis by reportedly leasing church property in east Jerusalem to Jewish investors. Angry Palestinians said the deal amounted to a Jewish takeover of Palestinian land, and the issue became a huge embarrassment to the Orthodox Church. The vote this week, at a pan-Orthodox meeting in Istanbul, does not formally remove Irineos. Only his own church members in Jerusalem can do that. But Irineos, knowing he would be removed, has refused to convene a synod. Most Greek Orthodox worshippers in Jerusalem are Palestinians.