The Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church share most of the holy Christian shrines in Israel. There are two Patriarchs...Latin (Roman Catholic) and Greek.
The idea that this moron is given so much influence by my Church is disturbing. It's stuff like this that has pushed me toward the trad movement, as It seems as if Rome is collectively losing it's mind and becoming a figurative lepar.
A little off topic, but I heard a totally new thought about the Israeli situation there this week. The Pallies often complain that a lot of land there "doesn't belong to the Jews". It is true that the Greek Orthodox Church holds title to some very large and/or significant properties. The Knesset and the Israel Museum supposedly rest on land that is under long-tem lease from the GOC. These leases are supposedly (a friend I trust told me this, I have no other source) due in about 10 years or so aand the Palies are licking their chops at what it portends.......
BUT, the Greek Orthodox Church in Israel, for long made up of Arabs, is increasingly dominated by RUSSIANS who came in during the immigrant flood from the old USSR, and THEY want the land to go to the gov't of Israel. Kind of funny how the "law of unintended consequences" or whatever it is, works out!
The Jews bless the nations even went they're not trying to, and in this case, the Russians return the blessing, even when they're not trying to. There's some theological principles buried in there somewhere.