Jordan and Palestine have suspended their recognition of Archbishop Nourhan Manougian as the Patriarch of the Armenian Church in Jerusalem, the holy land, and Jordan.
This decision comes after numerous unsuccessful attempts to address the patriarch’s handling of properties in Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter, which hold cultural, historical, and humanitarian significance.
The joint statement emphasized that this decision was made in accordance with the directives of Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The decision was prompted by the patriarch’s real estate-related actions and deals, which could impact the future of the holy city, undertaken without prior agreement and consultation with relevant parties, as required by laws and church regulations.
The patriarch also ignored appeals from Armenian institutions, read the statement.
It further highlighted that the decision of Jordan and Palestine follows the recent “deal” concerning the “Hadiqat Al Baqar” and its surroundings in the Old City of East Jerusalem, including the Qishla building in Bab Al Khalil, which is considered a significant part of the Armenian Quarter.
Despite requests to halt any actions that could affect the historical and legal status quo of these properties, the patriarch did not respond to these demands, the statement said.
Both parties affirmed that the Armenian Quarter is an integral and occupied part of the Old City, subject to relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations General Assembly, including resolutions 1515, 476, 338, 242, 2334, and other applicable international decisions.
The statement also noted that the Executive Board of UNESCO has issued several resolutions, recognizing the Old City and its walls as part of the endangered World Heritage list.
The actions of Patriarch Manougian were considered a clear violation of international charters and resolutions aimed at preserving Jerusalem’s status quo and safeguarding the Armenian heritage of the city, the statement said.
Several months ago, an announced deal was disclosed about granting a 99-year lease of an Armenian Patriarchate land to an Australian businessman to build a hotel and parking lot.
Twelve clerics from Jerusalem’s St. James Brotherhood issued an announcement condemning Manougian’s decision. The Palestinian Authority filed a complaint against Manougian to the Supreme Patriarch of Armenia for the many deals with Israel that raise suspicion.
Ramzi Khoury, head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Churches Affairs in Palestine, sent a letter to Catholicos Karekin II, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, emphasizing displeasure and resentment over the performance of the Armenian Patriarchate with the parishioners and the exclusivity of its decisions during recent years.
This could have negative repercussions on the final status negotiations and the Status Quo, as well as on the custodianship of Jordan over the holy places in East Jerusalem, according to the letter.
