Wikipedia
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Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem - Wikipedia
3 days ago - The Greek Church purchased most of its lands from the Ottoman Empire during the 19th century. In the 1950s, shortly after Israel's independence, the Greek Patriarchate agreed to lease most of its lands in Israel to the Israeli government for 99 years, with an option to extend.
The Times of Israel
timesofisrael.com › home › selling holy land: inside the greek patriarchate’s jerusalem property deals
Selling holy land: Inside the Greek Patriarchate's Jerusalem property deals | The Times of Israel
November 23, 2017 - While the Patriarchate is the ... other Greek Orthodox patriarchates, it is independent from Greece and receives no financial support from the Greek — or any other — government....
Why are the patriarchates of Jerusalem and Alexandria led by Greeks?
One the case of Alexandria, it has always been historically Greek, catering to a flock of Greek Orthodox diaspora all over Africa, from Nigeria, Congo, Cameroon, Libya, Egypt, Tanzania, South Africa, etc. since the 60’s when many Africans all over the continent came to Orthodoxy on their own in places like Kenya and Uganda, really all over the continent, there are thousand, if not tens of thousands of indigenous African laity. There are now numerous African bishops and some are metropolitans who are members of the synod who as they gain experience could be elected Patriarch at some point in the future. The Greeks were pushed out of Damascus about a hundred years ago and now have Arab Patriarchs. With respect to Jerusalem it is way more political especially under Israeli occupation. Although the Arabs would love to have an Arab Patriarch but the Israeli government would never allow it. The Israeli and the King of Jordan have the right to refuse the elected Patriarch and tell the synod to elect someone else. Aside from this it is also a very political and powerful position as the Patriarch controls about 20,000 acres in Israel owned by the Church. They are the biggest private landowner in the country and the Greek Orthodox bishops in Israel/Palestine and Jordan don’t want to give up. More on reddit.com
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August 20, 2023Jerusalem Patriarchate Parishes in USA
The Jerusalem Patriarchate stopped supporting parishes in the U.S. over 10 years ago. All the JP parishes were released to other jurisdictions. There was a JP parish in my city that had split off from ROCOR over some disagreement, and ended up being accepted by the Serbian church. Most of the other JP parishes went to GOARCH. More on reddit.com
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April 6, 2024Joint Statement by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
I wish all Palestinians could go hide in the churches. It's not safe from bombing as we've seen, but it draws significantly more condemnation than mosques or homes. May they all find a way to survive... More on reddit.com
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August 26, 2025Why are the Patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem ethnic Greeks?
Jerusalem is, uh, complicated. In Alexandria, there was always a historic divide. Parts of Upper Egypt were majority Copt for hundreds of years after the Arab conquests. The non-Coptic Christian population was largely limited to small ethnic greek communities living in urban areas. Think seafaring Greek merchants that worked around the Eastern Mediterranean. Under the Ottoman era, the Patriarch of Alexandria mostly lived in Constantinople as was a subordinate of the Rum Patriarchate. More on reddit.com
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March 9, 2021ResearchGate
researchgate.net › figure › Spatial-distribution-and-size-of-properties-owned-by-the-Greek-Orthodox-Patriarchate-of_fig1_268870716
Spatial distribution and size of properties owned by the Greek Orthodox... | Download Scientific Diagram
The Patriarchate holds the special status in Jerusalem as the oldest and largest Christian church in Jerusalem. It is one of the four oldest Orthodox Patriarchates, with the other three located in Constantinople, Antioch, and Alexandria.
Moment Magazine
momentmag.com › home › from 2004 | who holds the deed to the holy land?
From 2004 | Who Holds the Deed to the Holy Land?
August 8, 2023 - How the Greek Orthodox Church became one of the most influential landlords in Jerusalem is a story of medieval luck, good timing and a certain stubbornness. In the often strange politics of Israel, where religion and land are enmeshed in an ...
Apostolicpilgrimage
apostolicpilgrimage.org › background-information › - › asset_publisher › 5YKdJbXZNqGU › content › patriarchate-of-jerusalem49a7.html
Patriarchate of Jerusalem - Background Information - Apostolic Pilgrimage of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Jerusalem
The Ottoman Sultan would issue ... estate. The Greek Orthodox Patriarch was the titleholder and administrator of all lands registered in his name, as well as all those registered under the name of the Orthodox community...
Grokipedia
grokipedia.com › greek orthodox patriarchate of jerusalem
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem — Grokipedia
January 14, 2026 - The Ottoman Empire conquered the Mamluk Sultanate, including Palestine, in 1516–1517, integrating the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem into the Rum millet system under the oversight of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople. Sultan Selim I issued an ahidnâme to Patriarch Athanasius II (Atallas) in 1516, confirming the Patriarchate's rights to manage vakıf (endowment) properties, collect ecclesiastical revenues, and enjoy tax exemptions for monastic lands and holy sites.[18] Subsequent sultans, such as Mehmed II in 1458, reinforced these privileges through fermans that protected
Cambridge Core
cambridge.org › core › journals › international-journal-of-middle-east-studies › article › abs › greek-orthodox-patriarchate-of-jerusalem-and-its-congregation-dissent-over-real-estate › F464BC5ADDB981A8AAD5F3ACB3882131
THE GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM AND ITS CONGREGATION: DISSENT OVER REAL ESTATE | International Journal of Middle East Studies | Cambridge Core
September 23, 2005 - We reconstruct, analyze, and present detailed case studies of long-term disputes over real estate between the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem (its Greek patriarch and clergy), and its lay Arab community, known as Rum Orthodox, Roman Christians, or Greek Orthodox, and which number about 71,000 members.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/orthodoxchristianity › why are the patriarchates of jerusalem and alexandria led by greeks?
r/OrthodoxChristianity on Reddit: Why are the patriarchates of Jerusalem and Alexandria led by Greeks?
August 20, 2023 -
It makes no sense to me, at least in this day in age. Their laity are mostly Arabs and Africans.
As a side note, I found the official title of the Patriarch of Alexandria interesting: His Divine Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of the Great City of Alexandria, Libya, Pentapolis, Ethiopia, All Egypt and All Africa, Father of Fathers, Pastor of Pastors, Prelate of Prelates, the Thirteenth of the Apostles and Judge of the Universe.
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One the case of Alexandria, it has always been historically Greek, catering to a flock of Greek Orthodox diaspora all over Africa, from Nigeria, Congo, Cameroon, Libya, Egypt, Tanzania, South Africa, etc. since the 60’s when many Africans all over the continent came to Orthodoxy on their own in places like Kenya and Uganda, really all over the continent, there are thousand, if not tens of thousands of indigenous African laity. There are now numerous African bishops and some are metropolitans who are members of the synod who as they gain experience could be elected Patriarch at some point in the future. The Greeks were pushed out of Damascus about a hundred years ago and now have Arab Patriarchs. With respect to Jerusalem it is way more political especially under Israeli occupation. Although the Arabs would love to have an Arab Patriarch but the Israeli government would never allow it. The Israeli and the King of Jordan have the right to refuse the elected Patriarch and tell the synod to elect someone else. Aside from this it is also a very political and powerful position as the Patriarch controls about 20,000 acres in Israel owned by the Church. They are the biggest private landowner in the country and the Greek Orthodox bishops in Israel/Palestine and Jordan don’t want to give up.
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Judge of the univers?
Middle East Eye
middleeasteye.net › big-story › most-disputed-land-earth-how-greek-orthodox-church-sold-palestinian-plots
The most disputed land on earth: How Greek Orthodox church sold off Palestinian plots | Middle East Eye
December 6, 2017 - Analysts in the country have warned of a major economic crisis if the church insists on regaining its properties, which are worth at least $2bn. The Israeli website Calcalist has published a news story stating that in August 2016 the Greek Patriarchate sold the ownership of its land in the mentioned areas to a foreign company, instead of getting it back after 99 years, for just over $10m. This news was leaked after the Greek Patriarch sent a letter to the Jerusalem municipality demanding that it accelerates the completion of the secret deal, and created shockwaves amid economic and media circles.
The National
thenationalnews.com › home
Betrayal in the Holy Land: The Greek Orthodox Church is secretly selling Jerusalem property to Israel | The National
July 5, 2021 - Instead, as Palestinian parishioners were demanding their own national church, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem was selling or issuing long-term leases of land to Israel.
The Times of Israel
timesofisrael.com › home › 1,500 jerusalem homeowners up in arms over secret sale of church land
1,500 Jerusalem homeowners up in arms over secret sale of church land | The Times of Israel
July 5, 2017 - The Greek Orthodox Church — the second biggest owner of land in Israel after the Israel Lands Authority — acquired some 4,500 dunams (1,110 acres) of real estate in the center of Jerusalem during the 19th century, primarily for agriculture.
OrthodoxWiki
orthodoxwiki.org › Church_of_Jerusalem
Church of Jerusalem - OrthodoxWiki
The Church of Jerusalem remains the custodian of many of the holy sites in Jerusalem and environs, sometimes jointly with Roman Catholic or Coptic or Armenian Christians, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Lately there has been criticism of the church leadership by Palestinian faithful, who accuse the Greek-speaking and largely Greek-born leadership of squandering their money and treating their Arabic-speaking members as second-class faithful. Following the deposition of Patriarch Irenaios I amidst scandals regarding the transfer of land to Jewish control, the Holy Synod of the church named as their temporary primate His Eminence Metropolitan Cornelius (Rodousakis) of Petra.
The Times of Israel
timesofisrael.com › home › us developer pays over $200 million for slice of central jerusalem
US developer pays over $200 million for slice of central Jerusalem | The Times of Israel
January 20, 2023 - The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is the second biggest owner of real estate in Israel, after the Israeli government, having bought land from the Ottoman rulers in the 19th century.
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious movements & organizations
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem | Holy Land, Christianity, Faith | Britannica
March 16, 2026 - Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, autocephalous, or ecclesiastically independent, Eastern Orthodox patriarchate, fourth in honorific seniority after the churches of Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antioch. Since the beginning of Muslim rule in the 7th century, it has been the main custodian
Buyitinisrael
buyitinisrael.com › home › news › holy real estate: what is the status of thousands of apartments built on church land in jerusalem?
Church land property in Jerusalem — What is the status of apartments?
January 29, 2025 - Presumably, by the time the agreement expires in 31 years, the State of Israel will have reached some sort of agreement with the investors that protects the rights of thousands of residents living in apartments built on former Church land property in Jerusalem. That being said, up until this point, no one imagined a situation where KKL-JNF may not renew the lease agreement with the Church. In the weeks following the deal, news outlets published many articles examining the failures of KKL-JNF, claiming that the organization passed up on several opportunities to purchase the land from the Church before ultimately choosing to sell it to private investors. While the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is the most prominent Christian landowner in Jerusalem, it is not the only one.
The Pappas Post
pappaspost.com › home › the greek orthodox patriarchate of jerusalem’s land deals in israel spark conflicts with jews, christians and muslims alike
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem's Land Deals in Israel Spark Conflicts With Jews, Christians and Muslims Alike - The Pappas Post
January 7, 2018 - At the heart of the conflict– ... as Jews in Israel– is a series of secret land sales that the Patriarch has made to unnamed businessmen and companies in faraway places like the Caymen Islands....
Israel Property Hub
israelpropertyhub.com › home › israel real estate trends › how church-owned land in jerusalem shapes the city’s real estate market
How Church-Owned Land in Jerusalem Shapes the City’s Real Estate Market - Israel Property Hub
September 7, 2025 - While religious and historical significance drive demand, a lesser-known but critical factor influencing property values and ownership in the city is church-owned land. Several Christian denominations—primarily the Greek Orthodox Church, but also the Roman Catholic, Armenian, and Anglican churches—own large tracts of land in Jerusalem. Some of this land has been in church hands since the Ottoman era or earlier. It includes: ... The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is the largest private landowner in Jerusalem after the Israeli government.