Former Patriarch Irenaios of Jerusalem will take the title of the “Former Patriarch” of Jerusalem, after a decision of yesterday’s meeting of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
According to the announcement of the Holy Synod, “the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Chaired by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, at its 110th Meeting of July 12/25, 2019, unanimously lifted the degradation of Monk Irenaios and restored Him to the Episcopal Office, which he formerly held, and to the degree of the Former Patriarch of Jerusalem, attributing thus the full owed respect to His Office.”
Former Patriarch of Jerusalem Irenaios has serious health problems. He was hospitalized recently for the second time in the French hospital after having suffered pulmonary edema and cardiac arrhythmias.
Now he is in the Monastery of Saint Gerasimos of the Jordan, and his health condition has been getting worse.
Yesterday, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece told media representatives that Irenaios, the former Patriarch of Jerusalem, was welcome to the Gerontology and Welfare Support Center of the Archdiocese of Athens for as long as was necessary so that Irenaios fully recovered.
The Archbishop has already informed the Gerontology Center so that they can take the necessary steps to provide accommodation and care to Irenaios from September 1.
The full text of the decision of the Holy Synod:
“Objective regarding the decision of the lifting of Monk Irenaios’ degradation.
Because the enacted according to the rules continuing order of all things in the Church constructs and promotes peace, in which God’s Spirit, ‘which constitutes the institution of the Church’ finds rest, and because the holy rules were enacted by the Holy Fathers ‘for the healing of the passions and the cure of the souls,’ therefore also for the abolishment of any passionate and selfish action opposed to the unity of the body of the Church, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, following amenably the canonical orders, within the spirit of the aforementioned canonical principles, took the decision of the degradation of our predecessor Irenaios, in deep sorrow, thirteen years ago, and he had ever since been transferred to the order of Monks. Nevertheless, the Holy and Sacred Synod has never ceased to show a vivid interest in the well-being of the aforementioned brother of ours, with much patience, and for this reason it has unceasingly rendered interceding prayers to God for him.
Because the health condition of our brother in Christ has recently been deteriorating, the Holy and Sacred Synod, having considered the orders of God and acting philanthropically, according to the authority ‘which is held by the One who heals according to the science of Spiritual medicine’ decides unanimously the lifting of the degradation that had been imposed on our brother Irenaios, fervently praying to ‘the Lord of every principle and authority” to grant him and all of us the grace of the All-holy and Life-giving Tomb.’
The Holy and Sacred Synod delegated Geronda Secretary-General Most Reverend Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina and the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod Most Reverend Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda to announce this decision to the former Patriarch Irenaios, who under the care of the Patriarchate had recently been hospitalized at the French Hospital in Jerusalem and is currently being looked after at the Holy Monastery of Saint Gerasimos of the Jordan.”
