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Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III leaves the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem's Old City.
Photo: AFP Copyright 2007
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JERUSALEM (AFP)---Israel has finally recognised the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem more than two years after Theophilos III replaced his predecessor, sacked for allegedly selling church land to Jewish investors.
The Israeli government on Sunday voted to approve Theophilos III as successor to Irineos I, a cabinet statement said.
The Greek Orthodox Church elected Theophilos III in August 2005 after dismissing Irineos over an alleged multi-million-dollar sale of church land in a mainly Palestinian area of east Jerusalem to Jewish investors.
Under Church law, Theophilos’s election had to be approved by Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.
Both Jordan and the Palestinian Authority complied immediately, leaving Israel holding out alone.
Greece is keen to maintain a long-standing influence in the Holy Land that stems from its strong historical and cultural ties to the Jerusalem patriarchy.
The Greek Orthodox Church is the biggest and wealthiest Christian Church in the Holy Land, with around 90,000 followers in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
The Jerusalem Patriarchate commands massive wealth, largely denominated in land portfolios in Israel, the West Bank and Jordan.