Frown on Theophilus to sell church property to Israelis

Riots erupted in Bethlehem during the operation of Christmas celebrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, which follows the old calendar. In protest Palestinians denounced the local hierarchs of the Orthodox Church that selling off land for the benefit of Israel.

The protesters chanted slogans against the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, accusing him of betraying the Palestinians of the same religion, within the traditional procession which marks the start of the Christmas celebrations of the Orthodox Church in Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem.
Patriarch Theophilos led the celebrations in the presence of hundreds of pilgrims in the square of the Magi, but froureito by Palestinian police.
Theophilos III was elected Patriarch of Jerusalem in 2005, replacing Irenaeus who was deposed by the archiepiscopal office of Patriarch, by decision of the Hierarchy of Justice of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Irenaeus was accused was involved in a sale of ecclesiastical land in east Jerusalem to Jewish contractors over several million dollars.
The Palestinians have denounced the agreements purchase property and land between the Orthodox Church and Israel, and expect to make east Jerusalem the capital of their future state.