INTERVIEW WITH HIS EMINENCE
ARCHBISHOP NOURHAN MANOUGIAN
PATRIARCHAL VICAR AND CANON SACRIST OF THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM
Conducted by: Hagop Antreassian
HA: Your Eminence, this year Christmas was celebrated in Jerusalem in an atmosphere of peace, but in the view of non-Armenian observers, Armenian Christmas brought about a ceasefire to the bloody and tragic war in Gaza. It is noteworthy that you delivered your Christmas message in the grotto of Jesus birthplace in Arabic, and for three days, in writing about the Armenian celebrations, Palestinian newspapers highlighted this fact.
These feast days are celebrated with unique pomp and ceremony, and Jerusalemites, wherever they happen to be, relive the memory of those celebrations. It is certain that the magnificence of Armenian Jerusalems celebrations is not to be found anywhere else in the world. Your Eminence, is it possible for you to explain why, in Jerusalem, Jesus birth is celebrated on January 18 and 19?
ANM: In Jerusalem, Jesus birth is celebrated on January 19 according to the Julian calendar, but taking into account that January 18 is Christmas Eve, the St. James Brotherhood, headed by His Beatitude the Patriarch, sets
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out in the morning for Bethlehem in a motorcade procession and enters the city. His Beatitude is met and welcomed by the citys dignitaries and makes his official entry into the Armenian Convent in Bethlehem. The first part of the service begins at 2 p.m. in the afternoon, when His Beatitude, in solemn procession, enters the grotto of Jesus birth; this first part of the celebration concludes with a Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy. Then, at 10 p.m., the second part of the celebration begins, and continues until 6:00 a.m. the following morning. This is the reason why we say that Christmas takes place on January 18-19.
HA: Your Eminence, changing the subject now, I want to reflect on the Bylaws of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Dont you think that the Bylaws are very antiquated and in need of revision?
ANM: It is natural that every organization throughout the years of its existence should review its Bylaws, and the St. James Brotherhood has taken this into consideration and instituted such a review. Circumstances have necessitated a pause in the process, but we are hopeful that soon the work will resume.
HA: Do you think that really effective changes will take place, or do you foresee a more complete change overall?
ANM: Without a doubt, serious changes will be made and it is time that due thought be given in that direction.
HA: The issue of the real estate holdings of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem is one that has always been of concern to our Diaspora-dispersed Armenian people. Throughout the years there have been shady and suspicious dealings on the part of high-ranking members of the Brotherhood. Today, what is the situation regarding the real estate holdings?
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ANM: For the last almost 20 years, the situation has been comparatively different than in the past, taking into account that the Israeli Government no longer has cooperative partners to deal with. For that reason therefore, and for now, appetites have been held at bay. At present, we lack the advice of an individual, expert in real estate matters, one that could participate with us in nurturing this very sensitive and important aspect of our work.
HA: For a while now there has been a dispute about a property called The Cow Pasture. Can you enlighten us about this?
ANM: According to Arab statistics about the Old City of Jerusalem, at one time 40% of the Old City belonged to the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Subsequently, during the Sultanate period, there were certain misdeeds and manipulations regarding real estate property, one of which pertained to The Cow Pasture. According to the statistics of 300 years ago, that property had belonged to an Arab family. But we know from the history of the holy city of Jerusalem that ownership of land could change hands on a daily basis. According to recently-circulated rumors, the former owners of the property are trying to regain ownership. But the facts at our disposal indicate finally that the land these parties want to reclaim lies to the north of the Patriarchates property.
HA: Why didnt these claimants come forward before? Is it possible that another party is instigating their demands?
ANM: We have heard from reliable sources that their demands, based on incorrect and baseless information, have been instigated by unknown parties behind the scenes, thus encouraging their attempts to reclaim what does not belong to them. There is a lawsuit currently underway and the Patriarchate is hopeful that a positive decision will soon be forthcoming in its favor.
HA: For many years there has been no increase in the real estate holdings of the Patriarchate. What is the reason for that?
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ANM: There are three major reasons. The first and main one is simply the lack of financial resources, given the current cost of living. The leadership of the Patriarchate barely has been able to handle its regular budgetary demands. People seem to forget that our Patriarchate is a huge organization, with numerous departments and sections: the Brotherhood, St. James Cathedral, the St.Tarkmanchatz School and its teaching staff, the Seminary, its students and instructors with their daily subsistence needs (medical care, study/stationery/computer supplies, textbooks) and other expenses, the administrative staff, the Gulbenkian Library, the Museum, etc. All these have financial requirements. The Patriarchates only means of handling all these expenses is the income from its limited number of real estate holdings. Many are under the misapprehension that our real estate holdings are very large in number and very profitable, and that the income from these holdings is enough to cover all our expenses. But unfortunately this is not the reality. During previous years, especially after the Israeli occupation of the West Bank of the Jordan River, weve been in a great deal of difficulty particularly regarding the properties that have been inherited by the Patriarchate. These properties have become so costly to maintain, especially in light of the unstable political and economic situation inside Israel. When tenants empty our rental premises, it naturally has a negative impact on the income of the Patriarchate. I want to add here that for the last 20 years the salaries of the members of the Brotherhood and the Patriarchates staff have been regulated and stable, but nevertheless, given the volatile economic conditions, we have not been in a position to give any salary increases in the last few years.
Secondly, all the real estate properties belonging to the Patriarchate have been the heartfelt gifts of faithful Armenian pilgrims. Unfortunately, in the present day we have not experienced these types of benevolent faithful. And thirdly, the price of real property has soared to such an extent, that the
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Patriarchate, in its present condition, would find it impossible to even consider such purchases.
HA: What is the annual budget of the Patriarchate?
ANM: Three and a half million US dollars. The annual income barely covers the annual expense.
HA: If the yearly income and expense barely cover each other, how do you carry out any renovations inside the Patriarchate?
ANM: The recent renovations to the entryway of the Patriarchate were accomplished through a kind gift from Dr. Garo Garibian of Philadelphia, and the renovation of the reception room of the Holy Archangels Church inside the Patriarchates compound is being financed by the Executive Committee of Jerusalems Armenian Benevolent Union. The renovations of the Haifa, Jaffa and Ramle churches/monasteries are being financed strictly within the Patriarchates own budgetary resources and this is one of the reasons why the renovations are taking so long and imposing such financial pressures on the Patriarchate.
HA: Your Eminence, thank you very much for the time and the important information you provided.
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