Monday, March 11, 2013

The Patriarchate of Antioch Protests the Patriarchate of Jerusalem's Creation of a Diocese in Qatar

The French original, by Carol Saba, can be found here in pdf.


A bishop of the patriarchate of Antioch informs us that the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch has learned with much regret and great sadness of the announcement made by the  Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem regarding the election (and coming episcopal consecration) of the Reverend Archimandrite Makarios--until then performing the office of exarch of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Doha, Qatar-- as "Archbishop of Qatar."

 Without revisiting the circumstances surrounding the genesis of of the Orthodox parish in Doha, Qatar, served up to now "by oikonomia" by Father Makarios, thus assuring pastoral care for several Orthodox faithful from different jurisdictions working in that country, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East regards the Patriarchate of Jerusalem's establishing such a m"archdiocese" on territory that canonically belongs to the Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East constitutes a flagrant intrusion by one Orthodox church-- in this case, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem-- on the territory of another Orthodox church-- in this case, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East.

A unilateral initiative such as this, taken without consideration for the canonical jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East, the bishop continues, violates not only the practice of the Orthodox Church but also the bonds of love, brotherhood, and of good cooperation that exist between our two patriarchates and that should take precedence in all circumstances, especially during this trying period for all the Christians of this battered Middle East of today, with regard to any decision that could directly or indirectly tarnish these good relations.

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, according to our source, had an official letter of protest delivered to His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos, inviting him and the Holy Synod of Jerusalem in the name of the bonds of love that bind our two churches, to review this decision that not only hurts fraternal relations between the two patriarchates but also violates  the practice of the Orthodox Church. In this context, a letter has also been sent to His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I, ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople.

It is to be noted that the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East viscerally holds to the unity of the Orthodox Church and constantly works to develop the bonds of love, cooperation, and brotherhood between the different Orthodox churches and especially between the Orthodox churches of this land of the Middle East, so tested by wars and conflicts and which firmly keeps above all else hope and faith. In this regard, the Patriarchate of Antioch regrets the decision taken by the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and hopes that the Holy Synod of that church reexamine this decision without delay.

1 comment:

Isa Almisry said...

This should be interesting if the Phanar tries to convene the "Four Ancient Patriarchs and Cyprus" group again.