Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Arab Orthodox youth held a sit-in in front of the bishopric in Amman's Sweifieh as part of a series of demonstrations in the Orthodox Church in Palestine and Jordan. The sit-in was attended by hundreds of men, women and youth from the Arab Orthodox flock who protested against what they called “foreign colonization” that has been occupying the Orthodox Church for centuries. This colonialism is represented by Patriarch Theophilos and his synod and is exploiting what remained of the Orthodox Church, its flock, potentials and capabilities in Palestine and Jordan making the church loses its spiritual and national identity through the non-ecclesial and illegal policies. The protest began with a prayer for the souls of Gaza and Palestine’s martyrs by the priests who also prayed for peace and justice to prevail in the world.

What is worth mentioning is that for the first time in the Jordanian society several Orthodox clergymen participated in the protest to support the Arab sons and daughters of the Orthodox flock. Archimandrite Athanasius Kakish, who sent a letter a few weeks ago to His Majesty King Abdallah II concerning the Orthodox situation, was one of the most prominent clergymen in this protest.
Once again, protesters expressed their deep dissatisfaction with Metropolitan Venediktos, whom they consider a superficial bishop without a clear stance who is only representing the policies of the current patriarch Theophilos. Protesters expressed their refusal of any decision against any Arab Patriotic clergymen. In addition to this, the Arab Orthodox youth exposed all malicious policies practiced against Bishop Atallah Hanna, Archimdandrite Khristophoros Atallah and Archimandrite Meletios Bassal, including arbitrary transfers, cutting off salaries and exile practiced by Theophilos and his synod whereas meanwhile the Patriarchate cover for Father Gabriel Naddaf, who encourages Arab Christians recruitment in the Israeli occupation army and calls the legitimate Palestinian resistance "terrorism".

Voices were raised declaring that Theophilos' policies have caused him to lose his legitimacy and canonicity as patriarch and have delegitimized his synod. Once again, slogans were chanted to stress that Monastery of the Virgin Mary in Dibbeen and Archimandrite Khristophoros are a red line and that no authority can infringe on the monastery or bring Father Khristophoros out of his monastery. The speeches that were delivered confirmed the Arab Christians’ identity being a fundamental and main part of this nation, and that the current policies of the Orthodox spiritual leadership are contributing to emptying the Arab Middle East of its Christians.
Demands were raised for His Majesty King Abdallah II calling him to personally intervene in this issue, which is being deliberately distorted. Moreover, Chants were made for the Church, its unity and for the long life of His Majesty the king.