Foreclosure of Armenian Patriarchate Properties Threatens Christians

In a stunning escalation that threatens to upend centuries of sacred stewardship, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem now faces an existential crisis as the city threatens to foreclose on its properties.

Disputed tax claims may force the auction of estates that have long been the lifeblood of Jerusalem’s Christian heritage. This not only endangers the survival of a venerable institution but also imperils the historic Status Quo that has safeguarded the delicate balance of religious rights in the Holy City for generations.

That’s why the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem is petitioning in court this week to halt the foreclosure process, saying in a rare statement that the alleged debts, which date back to 1994, “have never been proven in judicial proceedings, and through customary practices heretofore have never been enforced.”