Arafat greets Alexei II during his Christmas pilgrimage to Bethlehem, when he presented documents laying claim to the monastery property

January 19, 2000
Web posted at: 11:27 p.m. EST (0427 GMT)

From International Correspondent Jerrold Kessel

JERICHO, West Bank (CNN) -- Two American nuns, including the sister of President Bill Clinton's former aide George Stephanopolous, are caught in the eye of a Russian church storm in the Holy Land.

Yasser Arafat's Palestinian police have evicted five so-called White Russian monks from their 19th-century monastery at 13 Moscow Street in the West Bank town of Jericho, handing the property over to the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

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The White Russian church was set up as a church in exile following the communist revolution in Russia. Known as the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, it has its headquarters in the United States and owns many properties in the Holy Land.

The Moscow Patriarchate -- the so-called Red Church -- has held the Orthodox faith in Russia since the communist takeover.

The property wrangle in the Holy Land is part of a 70-year battle for control of the Russian Orthodox Church involving the Red and White entities.

Two weeks ago, Moscow Patriarch Alexei II came on a Christmas pilgrimage to Bethlehem and presented Arafat with documents laying claim to the monastery property. Alexei II is the leader of the Red Church.

To the dismay of White Church officials, the Palestinians accepted the claim. This is the second such handover by the Palestinian Authority, and White Church officials fear its other properties could follow.

The issue of ownership would have been decided but for the two nuns who, during the turmoil of the takeover, managed to slip into the property.

In the meantime, Palestinian officials say the nuns won't be evicted by force but argue that since the Soviet Union has collapsed, the two Russian churches should no longer be enemies.

"It's not our business to tell them to be one with the Jews, and it's not their business to tell us with whom we have to be one," retorted Archbishop Mark of the church in exile.

Maria Stephanopolous does not stray far from the monastery, fearing she will not be allowed back in ( 816 K/12 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

From a distance, Sister Maria Stephanopolous told visitors at the gate she was afraid to stray far from the main building for fear she would not be allowed back.

However, when more senior Palestinian officers arrived, they told her she could approach. She did so warily.

"We didn't want to get embroiled in this, but if this is the only way we can get the attention of Arafat and of the Russians to stop this kind of interference, this is the way it has to go," Stephanopolous said.

Sisters from their convent in Jerusalem are allowed to bring supplies to the two nuns.

The U.S. consulate in Jerusalem is keeping a low profile but maintains regular contact with the two nuns inside the disputed church property.

Stephanopolous says she's determined to stand firm. "My brother is well aware of the situation, and we trust that he will do what he knows he can do," she said.

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