From here. More pictures here. The Greek Ambassador's somewhat clueless response can be seen here. This weekend, I will try to put up a translation of the full list of the protesters' grievances, including the specific points of canonical and Jordanian law that the Jerusalem Patriarchate habitually violates.
Arab Orthodox Youth Sit-in
AMMONNEWS - Hundreds of Arab Orthodox parishioners staged a sit in
on Saturday 05/17/2014 in front of the prime ministry protesting against
the intransigence of the Patriarchate represented by the Greek
Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Greek Orthodox
as the latter failed to perform his mere duties toward the church and
the parish by the laws and regulations of the Orthodox Church. According
to observers, this new escalatory movement is a courageous approach and
is a precedent in the history of the Arab Orthodox objection against
the Greek Presidency. However, this is only a slight movement that
precedes the imminent future escalation and a continuation of previous
protests which began early last April against the arrogance of the Greek
patriarch, according to protesters.
Protesters in front of the
prime ministry appealed to the Jordanian government to impose pressures
on the Patriarchate to fulfill all their historical demands represented
in ending all forms of intimidation against the clergy of Arab monks
like Bishop Dr . Atallah Hanna, Archimandrite Christophoros Attallah,
Archimandrite Dr. Mlatios Basal, Archimandrite Athanasius Qaqeesh and
other who have ideology of renaissance and reform as well as their
immediate ordination as bishops and including them as members of the
Synod like their Greek counterparts. Also, the activation of dioceses
system, the application of Jordanian law No. 28 of 1958 on the Greek
Orthodox Patriarchate, and endorsing the law of the Monastery of Virgin
Mary in Dibeen which was built by the Jordanians Orthodox to enable the
founder of the monastery , Archimandrite Christophoros Atallah to run
the monastery by the ecclesiastical laws and regulations and also
adopting a regulatory patriarchal decision to call back all Arab monks
of the Church of Jerusalem who forcibly migrated to other Orthodox
churches.
The file of Arab church’s endowments and property,
which is still exposed to the risk of Judaization because of long-term
leases and selling resulting from the complete exclusivity and vague
practices exercised by the Greek management in managing this file was
also present in this sit-in, in addition to the official stance of the
Orthodox Church of promoting and encouraging the recruitment of Arab
Christians in the Israeli army.
Protestors appealed to His
Majesty King Abdullah II to personally deal with their grievances hoping
that His Majesty would direct orders for all concerned entities to
abstain supporting the Greek patriarch at the expense of Arab Orthodox
parish.
During the protest, deep regret was expressed regarding
the decision of Arab Patriarchate of Antioch (Syria and Lebanon) to cut
church’s ties with Church of Jerusalem due to the thoughtless and
provocative decision of the Greek patriarch Theophilus (according to the
protesters) to establish a bishopric in the State of Qatar, surpassing
the geographical boundaries of Patriarchate of Antioch. Protesters
explained that such conduct issued by the Greek patriarch does not
represent them and it is on drawing a wedge among Arab Orthodox
parishioners in the difficult circumstances of Arab people in this
region.
Finally, the protesting crowds stressed the Arab
Hashemite guardianship on all Christian and Islamic endowments and holy
sites in the City of Jerusalem. They also welcome and completely
support the historic visit to be made by Head of the Catholic Church in
the world His Holiness Pope Francis to Jordan during the next few days.
They also welcome the visit of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew I to the Holy Land hoping that he would pay attention to
what is happening in the Church of Jerusalem.
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