In Jerusalem, the scandal around the patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Nurhan Manukyan, who personally signed a transfer agreement for renting for 99 years in the south-west of the Armenian Quarter, known as the “Garden of Cows”, reports HaqQin.az with reference to Civilnet.am.
Tenant is the Australian Businessman Daniel Rubinstein, which plans to build a 7-star hotel on this earth. However, the Armenian community of Jerusalem and the Holy Land opposed this transaction. Under the letter demanding to cancel the rental contract, 144 people were signed, including one priest – Archimandrite Immanuel Atajanian. The letter was addressed to the Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II, other high-ranking clergymen, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, the Armenian community of the world, etc.
“We want to draw the public attention to the fact that Nurkhan Manukyan, in addition to his past sins, now alienates the huge part of the Armenian quarter of the old city of Jerusalem, who is essentially an invaluable land plot,” said in a letter.
It was noted that the passage of the territory of the “Garden of Cows” under the construction of the hotel will occur “in spite of all the rules and regulations of the Holy Church and common sense,” because the Armenian-Christian communities on the Holy Land are already reduced.
In a letter, the Armenian community put forward a demand to withdraw a signature under the agreement, otherwise it will require the resignation of Patriarch Nurkhan Manukyan and the real estate director of Barea Yersyana.
The statement claimed that any long-term lease would be considered approved only if the majority of members of the Universal Meeting of Monastery Briat vote for a contract. But the contract mentioned has never been represented by members of the General Assembly.
Signing under the letter believe that the plot surrendered may not return to Patriarchate after the expiration of the long-term lease, since investors using the tightened fiber, usually transfer ownership of Israeli courts.
The letter made a resonance, which forced Manukyan and YERETYAN to resort to threats to the clergy and persecution. They began to call some clergy who signed him, in their offices and intimidate, threatening to dismiss, remove from office, to exclude from the congregation, to cut their monthly salary, etc.
As a result of these intimidations, three monks raised their signatures under the letter and signed a statement prepared by YERETSYAN, in which, according to CivilNet, only lies and fabrications contained. After that, they began to shoot signed signed with their posts. Instead of dismissed, obedient priests are appointed, not signatories.
Also, the Patriarch banned the clergymen who signed the letter to enter the Patriarchate building and see the Patriarch. Moreover, all the signatory clergymen is prohibited from submitting to court or publish articles, the Armenian media writes.