The statement of the Arab Orthodox Youth in Jordan and Palestine/ Orthodox Society


17-12-2014 04:13 PM

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - the Arab Orthodox Youth became aware that the so-called Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem decided in its meeting today, headed by Mr. Theophilos, Archbishop of Tabor, the so-called Patriarch, to punish the Reverend Archimandrite Christophoros the head and spiritual father of Monastery of Virgin Mary Lifespring- Dibeen by ecclesiastical defrocking and dismissal from the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre because he requested the illegitimate Patriarch to apply Canon law at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.


This decision comes in the wake of a series of other arbitrary decisions and intimidations against many priests and monks to silence the voice of the righteous in an unprecedented approach in the history of the church. This is the result of the violation of the illegitimate Patriarch Theophilos of the enacted laws in “the mother of churches” including refraining from enforcing the Jordanian Law No. 27 of the year 1958, the successive violation of Apostolic Canons (No. 25, 29, 30, 35, 36, 38, 58), refusing the continuous demands of the flock; clergy and laity to perform his ecclesiastical and pastoral duties as a patriarch as well as several and deliberate abuses against Arabs monks and priests and other violations against the Orthodox Church illustrated in disregarding Apostolic Canons and the Patriarchate law, unjust campaign to politicize and Judaize the church, turning a blind eye on symbols of corruption which distorted the image of the glorious church and its honorable national stances causing a problematic regional segregation among members of the same church and nation.


With this statement, we reply to this uncanonical decision issued by an unqualified synod and declare that Mr. Theophilos, Archbishop of Tabor, is not the legitimate Patriarch of the Church of Jerusalem. He is unworthy of trust and neither he nor his synod represents us or represents the Arab Orthodox flock in Jordan and Palestine. Consequently, the decisions issued by this synod are void and have no connection to the Church and will be combated. From this very moment, we hereby declare his deposition from being the Spiritual Father of the Orthodox Church in Jordan and Palestine after ten years of neglecting the demands of the Arab flock, his intransigence, his racism and his flagrant violations of Jordanian law pertaining to the Patriarchate. We likewise ask all sincere priests to refrain from commemorating his name as Patriarch at Divine Liturgies and also to refrain from commemorating the names of Bishops Venedectos and Philoumenos as they are members of this so-called synod and are direct accomplices in this sinister decision as well as commemorating the name of the Ecumenical Patriarch instead of Theophilos as historically he is the first among equals of the Orthodox patriarchs.



We declare to everyone, near and far, that the Reverend Father Christophoros, pastor of our only Orthodox monastery in Jordan shall remain in his monastery in dignity and honor no matter what, and shall celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the appointed times and the services of the Church as usual. No harm will come to him so long as we are his flock, as the flock chooses its pastor.


We are confounded by the Jordanian government’s stance and the stance of the Palestinian National Authority in supporting Theophilos, the unqualified, who represents a historic colonization of the Orthodox Church with his policy of racism against the people of this country. We are wondering about the power that supports the so-called Theophilos, works against the Arab Orthodox issue and flexes its muscles against Arab Christians in Jordan and Palestine. We hold governments responsible of the outcomes of this ecclesiastical crisis.



As the Arab Orthodox youth in Jordan have submitted a petition to His Majesty King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein containing around ten thousand signatures of Jordanian citizens regarding the Arab Orthodox issue that absolutely supports the position of Father Christophoros, the Arab Orthodox youth appeal to His Majesty to intervene immediately and directly to bring justice to the case of Father Christophoros Atallah and the Arab Orthodox flock and to right the injustice and the historical slander committed against us by the Greek colonizers.


We also call on Patriarchs of Orthodox churches in the world to send official delegations to meet with representatives of the Orthodox parish in Jordan and Palestine, to handle all the facts with transparency and impartiality and to provide the desired recommendations before it is too late.


The Arab Orthodox Youth in Jordan and Palestine/ Orthodox Society


Amman 16.12.2014




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