World Council of Churches Stands in Solidarity with Armenian Patriarchate as Property Faces Foreclosure

JERUSALEM — The World Council of Churches (WCC) stands in solidarity with the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem in the face of an unjust foreclosure order issued by the Municipality of Jerusalem, said Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, WCC general secretary.

“We denounce this act as a blatant attack on religious freedom and an alarming violation of the historic Status Quo that governs the Holy Sites of Jerusalem,” he said.

“For centuries, the Armenian Patriarchate, alongside other Christian institutions, has safeguarded the sacred heritage of the Holy Land, serving as a beacon of faith, community service, and justice.”

Pillay added that the coercive measures taken against the Patriarchate constitute not only a legal and moral travesty but also a dangerous precedent that threatens all Christian institutions in Jerusalem.

“This reckless action is part of a wider pattern of increasing pressures, land disputes, and acts of intimidation targeting Christian communities in the Holy City—acts that the WCC has repeatedly condemned,” he said. “We call upon the Israeli government to immediately freeze the foreclosure proceedings and uphold the internationally recognized Status Quo of Jerusalem.”

Pillay further urged the international community, including religious and political leaders, to take decisive action to protect the fundamental rights of Christian communities and to ensure that the Holy Land remains a place of worship, peace, and coexistence for all.

“The World Council of Churches reaffirms its unwavering commitment to justice and peace in the Holy Land,” he said. “We will continue to advocate, to accompany, and to raise our voice in defense of the sacred heritage and dignity of all people in the Holy Land.”

The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem faces an imminent foreclosure of its historic properties over a disputed municipal tax debt that have allegedly accrued since 1994. If the court rejects the Patriarchate’s appeal, the Municipality will seize and auction Armenian Church properties it has owned for centuries.

The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, today issued a joint statement, expressing their steadfast solidarity with the Orthodox Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem in its pursuit of justice against an unjust foreclosure order issued by the Municipality of Jerusalem.

The Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, regarding the issue.

The court session is expected to be held on February 24th 2025, but it might be cancelled due to the poor weather conditions.