In recent years, there is an increase in armed conflicts in our region. This alone is troubling, but it becomes even more concerning, when, in many of these conflicts, the Orthodox Church is directly or indirectly involved. And, much to our disappointment, it often proves unable to rise to the circumstances.
Regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war, the church issue has dominated the headlines throughout the conflict. I have already devoted considerable space in this column to expressing my opinion on where the balance lies and who, in my view, represents the “just” side.
Now all eyes are turned to the Middle East, more precisely to the conflict between Iran and Israel. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem stands at the center of this violence because of its position and history.
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem no longer projects its Greek Orthodox character as strongly as it once did. Some of the reasons: the abandonment and indifference shown over time by successive Greek governments, with no exceptions; persistent pressure from Russia; and the war that began in 2023 following the terrorist attack to Israel. All these developments have placed Jerusalem in this particularly difficult situation.
Well-informed sources familiar with the situation in Jerusalem have told this column that conditions were far from ideal even before the current conflicts. Revenues were minimal, and the Patriarchate’s property could not be fully utilized, since, due to war, much of the Patriarchate’s real estate remains vacant while everyone is hesitant amid to the ongoing hostilities.
Jerusalem at the Centre
The ground was fertile for Russia could infiltrate and expand its influence. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem responded to this for reasons he only knows. For similar reasons, six years ago, he agreed to lead an initiative—at Moscow’s prompting—in Amman, Jordan, which attempted to challenge the prerogatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and ultimately ended in a fiasco.
Since then, he has turned his back on everything related to Greek Orthodoxy, particularly the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, “espousing” the Russian strategy for reasons, as previously noted, known only to himself.
Now he finds himself at the centre of the conflict, with bombs falling over the heads of the faithful. Notably, on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the feast was celebrated amid widespread fear of bombardment. For this reason, the Divine Liturgy was not celebrated at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre but at the Patriarchal Church of Saints Constantine and Helen.
There is the question of “who is to blame” for the fact that the Patriarchate and the Patriarch of Jerusalem have found themselves in the eye of the storm, without any clear allies at their side. However, this is a question we will not attempt to answer here—at least not for the time being.
Instead, we will pose another question. On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, we celebrated the restoration of the icon and the “restoration of order.” Who, then, are those who must restore order within the Orthodox Church? Who holds the long-recognized right and prerogative to restore that order for all? And why is this authority not being exercised? How much worse can the situation become in an Orthodox Church that is clearly divided?
Melchizedek
*Republished from the newspaper “Orthodox Truth”
