The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Theophilos III, and the Anglican archbishop of Jerusalem, The Most Reverend DrHosam Elias Naoum were centre stage at the Coronation – and it was the holy oil they blessed in Jerusalem that was used for the anointing of King Charles. Today the two of them, the Patriarch beaming and bearded, and the Archbishop a relatively young Arab Christian, wanted to draw attention in London to the bleak situation of Christians in Jerusalem – over a quarter of the population a century ago and less than two per cent now. Cue, wouldn’t you think, for the Defender of the Faith himself, King Charles, to make their case?
The Patriarch and Archbishop held an event hosted by the Jordanian ambassador, for King Abdullah has a specific role under the Status Quo (the international understanding about the holy places in Jerusalem) to protect both Christian and Muslim sites. And the problem is both familiar and easily identifiable: the hostility of radical Jewish settler groups to the historic Christian presence in Jerusalem. As the Patriarch observed, “they want to redeem the holy city from the profane, and they see us as the profane”.
There’s the routine disrespect for Christian clergy on the streets of the city -young radicals routinely spit at priests and monks on the streets (the Archbishop says that he feels like an unwelcome stranger in his own city); police blocking pilgrim access to the Orthodox Holy Fire at Easter; and, adds the Anglican Archbishop, there was the desecration of gravestones in the Anglican cemetery. Added to which there’s the indifference of the police to attacks on clergy – “we complain”, says the Archbishop, “but nothing ever happens”. Then there’s the infiltration of the city authorities – including apparently benign but influential institutions such as the National Parks Authority and the Archaeological authority – by members of the settler movement, Elad, which has taken over areas of the Mount of Olives for settler families. They hold cultural or sporting events that are inimical to the sacred Christian character of the area.
And there’s the running difficulty with a particularly aggressive settler group, Ataret Cohanim, funded like many of them from America, which has bought up sites in the Christian quarter (in more than one site, by legally problematic means) to assert the Jewish presence there (which is something very different from peaceable Jews buying property).
Added to which there are the new antagonisms: in the Netenyahu coalition government there are two members that are fascist-nationalist. Under the present Israeli government it’s increasingly difficult to find ministers who are willing to engage in dialogue with the Churches, though the Patriarch says that relations with the President are good, and even the controversial prime minister was formerly friendly. The Patriarch is anxious to make clear that “we are not against the state of Israel and we fight anti-Semitism and Islamophobia”. He’s emphatically eirinic: “There’s a multi-cultural, multi-religious tapestry in Old Jerusalem, and what would it be without that tapestry?” he asks.
So how about King Charles fulfilling his role as the Defender of the Faith? The Patriarch is enthusiastic about the King’s interest in the issue, very evident during his visit to Jerusalem and Bethlehem in 2021 and the interfaith gathering he hosted at the Anglican cathedral. “I was surprised at how knowledgeable he was,” he said. The Anglican archbishop added that while they didn’t expect the King to intervene in the politics of Jerusalem, he and the church leaders could, by discussing the issues in a religious context, “create an environment where politicians could follow”. So, a good challenge for the Fidei Defensor. And what about the rumours that the King is in fact an Orthodox convert? The Patriarch laughs. “He doesn’t need to convert. He’s got the faith through his father”.
(PHOTO CREDIT: The Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, and the Most Reverend Dr Hosam Elias Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem (right), with the silver urn containing the Chrism Oil, made from oil from the mount of olives mixed with essential oils, which was used in the Coronation of King Charles III, on March 3, 2023 in Jerusalem. The King was anointed, blessed and consecrated with the oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury in a sacred ritual during his coronation on May 6. (Photo by Patriarchate of Jerusalem/Buckingham Palace via Getty Images)
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