KeghartJustice Armenia, New Jersey, 25 September 2025
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your swift action and your respectful outreach ahead of yesterday’s meeting. We now have important news to share.
According to the Armenian Patriarchate’s official press release (Sept. 25, 2025), the General Assembly of the Brotherhood of Sts. James:
- Reaffirmed its prior declarations (Oct. 27, 2021 and Nov. 15, 2021) condemning the transaction as illegal.
- Declared the July 8, 2021 lease concerning the Cows’ Garden illegal, uncanonical, and null and void, as it was signed without the approval of the General Assembly.
- Rejected the Addendum and Settlement Agreement proposed through mediation.
- Appointed a committee of five clergymen to work with legal counsel in continuing the cancellation lawsuit against “Xana Gardens” Ltd.
In addition, we have been informed that, at the insistence of certain clergymen, a vote was taken to invite the community’s lawyers to present their views. That motion passed by the narrowest of margins—a reminder that continued, respectful engagement matters. By contrast, the motion rejecting the Addendum and Settlement Agreement passed with 22 votes, reflecting a clear mandate to protect the Cows’ Garden.
What this means
- The Brotherhood has rejected the settlement path that threatened to entrench the 2021 error.
- The Patriarchate has resolved to advance the legal route to cancel the lease.
- There is a clear internal mandate—backed by a strong vote—to preserve the Cows’ Garden as an inseparable part of our heritage, and a narrowly won opening to ensure the community’s legal arguments are heard directly during internal deliberations.
What’s next—
Express thanks, respectfully. If you contacted a member of the Brotherhood, please follow up to thank them for these decisions—especially for inviting the community’s legal team—and to encourage continued transparency as the legal process proceeds.
There is still work ahead in the courts, but the Brotherhood’s actions have created a stronger path to remedy the 2021 breach and secure the Patriarchate’s control and guardianship of the Cows’ Garden.
Thank you for standing together for Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter.
*****
Justice Armenia · 876 Pueblo Drive · Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 · USA
Keghart
Keghart
2 comments
We thank the St. James Brotherhood for honoring their vows and voting to reject the latest I. e. 2021 illegal sale of Church and Community properties.
In addition we thank the legal team, and the bishops/archbishops/clergy from abroad for helping in the process. Not forgetting the untiring efforts of the local Armenian Community, and the Armenians of the diaspora.
Gratefully,
H
We need to know about the position of the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem. Have not heard anything from him. Why is he silent?
What is and how much is his involvement in this catastrophic deal?
What are the tools that can be used to remove or persecute all the clergy from low to highest rank?
The Armenian Diaspora needs to know all the details of this tragedy.
Thank you