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DIVAN OF THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM
PO Box 14235, Jerusalem 91141
Contact person: Rev. Fr. Pakrad Berjekian
Tel: (9722) 628-2331, Ext. 206
FAX: (9722) 626-4861
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenian-patriarchate.org
PRESS RELEASE
10 November 2008
Violation of Armenian Status Quo Rights in the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre on Armenian Orthodox Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross
ARMENIAN QUARTER, OLD CITY, JERUSALEM -- Despite several written
protests by the Armenian Patriarchate, and despite the many attempts to
peacefully conclude this conflict at the Status Quo Committee meetings
and despite the most recent negotiations about the conflict with the
Director of the Christian Affairs Department at the Interior Ministry
Mr. Cezar Marjieh and also with the Commander of the Police of the Old
City division Cmndr. Doron Yedid, once again the Armenian Solemn
Procession at the Holy Sepulchre Church was disrupted. Once again and
contrary to Status Quo provisions, the Greeks attempted to place a Greek
monk inside the Edicule, a vestibule that lies just outside the entryway
to the Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ, during the Armenian solemn
procession. Armenian monks forbade the Greek monk from entering the
Edicule. Dozens of Greek monks who were gathered prior to the Solemn
Procession of the Armenians, by force attempted to enter inside the
Edicule. The police intervened and made a barrier between the Greeks
and Armenians in front of the Edicule. The Greek monks attacked the
Armenian Priests and seminarians. Scuffles took place between the
Armenian and Greek monks and the Armenian Procession was disrupted. The
police intervened, detained an Armenian monk, and released him today.
The presence of the Greek monk inside the Edicule is a serious violation
of the Status Quo terms governing the Holy Places, of which the
Armenians, Latins and Greek Orthodox share equal rights of
custodianship. The Armenian Patriarchate has made its position clear
that on the Feast of the Holy Cross, the 1st Sunday of Great Lent, Palm
Sunday and Holy Fire Saturday, when they are in possession of the Holy
Tomb, the Greeks should refrain from placing their monk inside the
Edicule.
The rights of the Armenian Orthodox in the Holy Places have been granted
in a Firman, Al Hijrah 1245 (1829). It stipulates that "no interference
or intervention should ever be allowed to occur in respect of the
celebration of mass and other processions of the [Armenian] community".
The Armenian Patriarchate strongly protests against the violation of its
centuries old rights in the Church of Holy Sepulcher by the Greek
Orthodox Church and against the aggression of the Greek monks during the
Armenian Orthodox Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross.
PO Box 14235, Jerusalem 91141
Contact person: Rev. Fr. Pakrad Berjekian
Tel: (9722) 628-2331, Ext. 206
FAX: (9722) 626-4861
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenian-patriarchate.org
PRESS RELEASE
10 November 2008
Violation of Armenian Status Quo Rights in the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre on Armenian Orthodox Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross
ARMENIAN QUARTER, OLD CITY, JERUSALEM -- Despite several written
protests by the Armenian Patriarchate, and despite the many attempts to
peacefully conclude this conflict at the Status Quo Committee meetings
and despite the most recent negotiations about the conflict with the
Director of the Christian Affairs Department at the Interior Ministry
Mr. Cezar Marjieh and also with the Commander of the Police of the Old
City division Cmndr. Doron Yedid, once again the Armenian Solemn
Procession at the Holy Sepulchre Church was disrupted. Once again and
contrary to Status Quo provisions, the Greeks attempted to place a Greek
monk inside the Edicule, a vestibule that lies just outside the entryway
to the Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ, during the Armenian solemn
procession. Armenian monks forbade the Greek monk from entering the
Edicule. Dozens of Greek monks who were gathered prior to the Solemn
Procession of the Armenians, by force attempted to enter inside the
Edicule. The police intervened and made a barrier between the Greeks
and Armenians in front of the Edicule. The Greek monks attacked the
Armenian Priests and seminarians. Scuffles took place between the
Armenian and Greek monks and the Armenian Procession was disrupted. The
police intervened, detained an Armenian monk, and released him today.
The presence of the Greek monk inside the Edicule is a serious violation
of the Status Quo terms governing the Holy Places, of which the
Armenians, Latins and Greek Orthodox share equal rights of
custodianship. The Armenian Patriarchate has made its position clear
that on the Feast of the Holy Cross, the 1st Sunday of Great Lent, Palm
Sunday and Holy Fire Saturday, when they are in possession of the Holy
Tomb, the Greeks should refrain from placing their monk inside the
Edicule.
The rights of the Armenian Orthodox in the Holy Places have been granted
in a Firman, Al Hijrah 1245 (1829). It stipulates that "no interference
or intervention should ever be allowed to occur in respect of the
celebration of mass and other processions of the [Armenian] community".
The Armenian Patriarchate strongly protests against the violation of its
centuries old rights in the Church of Holy Sepulcher by the Greek
Orthodox Church and against the aggression of the Greek monks during the
Armenian Orthodox Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross.