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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: December 14, 2005 |
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Athens pledged support Tuesday for the new Greek Orthodox patriarch of the Holy Land, who is troubled by financial problems and Israel's refusal to recognize him.
Greek-born Patriarch Theofilos III was sworn in last month - succeeding Irineos, who was ousted in May amid allegations he leased church land in east Jerusalem to Jewish groups interested in expanding the Jewish presence there.
Theofilos, 53, has said he will not recognize the alleged land deals signed by his predecessor.
In Athens, he met with Deputy Foreign Minister Panayiotis Skandalakis.
"(Theofilos) is creating a new environment at the patriarchate and has been trouble so much
recently," Skandalakis said.
State-run NET television said Skandalakis had offered to create a panel of experts in Athens to advise the patriarchate on its affairs.
"We discussed ways of helping the patriarchate work properly," Theofilos said.
On Sunday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew - the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians who is based in Istanbul, Turkey - gave an interview to Greek television and urged Israel to recognize Theofilos.
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