The Patriarchate of Jerusalem successfully regained its’ full rights to a plot of land in Abu Tor neighborhood in Jerusalem, for about 80 million shekels. Thus, the Patriarchate was able to completely liberate the land from all the restrictions that were hindering its ownership, which arose as a result of old lease agreements and reservations made by the Israeli government in response to judicial decisions issued in previous eras.
The Patriarchate with the guidance and follow-up of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III was able to restore the strategic piece of land in Jerusalem after more than a decade of continuous effort, given the value of this religious heritage and archaeological land.
The Patriarchate had previously entered into partnerships to develop this piece of land for many reasons, including the financial hardship it suffered at the time, but as time passed by the Patriarchate found solutions and ways to regain its ownership. The aforementioned plot of land is located next to the Orthodox Church in Abu Tor, which contains antiquities from the Byzantine era.
In addition, the Jerusalem Patriarchate issued a statement announcing that the restoration of the land is considered a positive progress and a tangible result of the policy of restoring and protecting Orthodox property adopted by the Holy Synod since the election of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III as Patriarch of Jerusalem and all of Palestine and Jordan, who personally follows up, on a daily basis, the file of recovering Orthodox properties.
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem considers this historic regain of rights to the land of Abu Tor, a practical and realistic response to the attempts of radical groups which seeks to seize the Church’s real estate and to restrict the authentic Christian presence in Jerusalem.
By Jerusalem Patriarchate
