The Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Wanted to Sell Precious Items Worth $35,000

Following the announcement today of the suspension of Father Parek Yeritsyan, a member of the St. Jacob's Brotherhood of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, he has published a response letter addressed to Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The content of the letter, which we are publishing along with a photocopy, reveals that Patriarch Nourhan Manougian is certainly not blameless regarding the illegal leasing transaction of the contested land plot known as the "Cow Garden," where a hotel was supposed to be built.

Furthermore, Parek Yeritsyan makes a scandalous revelation. He specifically writes that on the morning of May 6, he was with Patriarch Nourhan, during which the Patriarch took out precious jewelry worth $35,000 made of coral and suggested that Yeritsyan sell it, stating that if he did so, he would receive a commission of $5,000.

Parek Yeritsyan rejected this offer.