wfn.org | Archbishop Demetrios Meets with Senator Joseph Lieberman

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2003
Contact: Nikki Stephanopoulos

ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS MEETS WITH
SENATOR JOSEPH LIEBERMAN TO CONTINUE EFFORT
FOR ISRAEL'S RECOGNITION OF PATRIARCH

Washington, DC His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek 
Orthodox Church in America and Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, met 
with Senator Joseph Lieberman on Thursday, April 3, to discuss the efforts 
toward the recognition of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem by the 
government of Israel. The Archbishop was accompanied by prominent members 
of the Greek American community.

His Beatitude Patriarch Irenaios was canonically elected by the Synod of 
the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in August of 2001, and traditionally this 
election is confirmed by the governments of Jordan, Israel, and the 
Palestinian Authority.	However, Israel has withheld official recognition, 
limiting the functions of the Patriarch.

Senator Lieberman, a member of the Orthodox Jewish faith, a member of the 
Senate Armed Services Committee, a former Vice Presidential nominee and a 
candidate for President of the United States, has contributed significantly 
to these efforts by sending a letter to the Israeli government last week 
and by addressing the issue in his visit to Israel last December.  During 
the meeting with Archbishop Demetrios, the Senator promised to intensify 
his efforts.

Following the meeting with Senator Lieberman, the Archbishop spoke by phone 
with Congresswoman Shelly Berkley regarding her successful efforts to 
secure the signatures of almost all of the Jewish members of the US House 
of Representatives on a letter that was sent today to Prime Minister Ariel 
Sharon urging the recognition of the Patriarch.

These efforts are a crucial contribution to what has been an international 
endeavor by government and religious officials to see the election of 
Patriarch Irenaios confirmed.  In September of 2002 the Holy Eparchial 
Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America issued an official 
statement on the delay, calling upon Israel to recognize the election and 
respect the "centuries old rights of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem."

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