Ecclesiastical Coup Attempt at Sinai Monastery

Athens, July 31, 2025 – A dramatic power struggle is unfolding at the historic Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, where a group of monks, led by Monk Hesychios, is attempting to depose Archbishop Damianos. The move, described as an “ecclesiastical coup,” coincides with critical legislative developments in Greece and upcoming diplomatic talks with Egypt.

Coup Attempt Amid Legislative Push
The controversy erupts as the Greek Parliament debates a landmark bill from the Ministry of Education, presented by Minister Sofia Zacharaki, which grants legal status to the Monastery’s assets in Greece through a Public Law Entity. This marks the first time such recognition has been proposed. Concurrently, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty is set to meet Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis in Athens on August 6 to finalize an interstate agreement on the Monastery’s status.

Details of the Coup
According to sources, Monk Hesychios and other members of the Monastery’s Brotherhood initiated a questionable voting process, with 15 monks supporting the deposition of Archbishop Damianos in a record sent to Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. However, the decision’s legitimacy is under scrutiny, as it requires a two-thirds majority of the Brotherhood’s 25-member General Assembly. The dissenting monks claim the majority should be calculated based on 22 members, asserting that 15 signatures suffice. Notably, Hieromonk Pamphilos, who signed the vote, is no longer a Sinaite, having relocated to Mount Athos years ago.

Archbishop Damianos Responds
Archbishop Damianos, who recently defended the bill in Parliament, condemned the coup as lacking legal validity and accused the monks of undermining the Monastery’s unity. In a poignant statement, he referenced the Greek poet Dionysios Solomos, lamenting the discord threatening the Monastery’s centuries-old status quo, recognized by UNESCO in 2002 as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Damianos emphasized ongoing efforts to safeguard the Monastery following a 2012 Egyptian court challenge and a May 28, 2025, Ismailia Court of Appeals ruling that jeopardized its existence.

“This coup serves those who wish the Monastery’s Golgotha to persist,” Damianos declared, vowing to uphold Divine and Holy Canons to correct the dissenting monks and preserve unity. He expressed hope that the unified support from Greek political parties and Egypt’s cooperation will secure the Monastery’s future.

Calls for Intervention
Sources stress the urgency of high-level political and ecclesiastical intervention to prevent the coup from derailing the legislative and diplomatic processes. The Monastery’s fate hangs in the balance as Greece and Egypt work to resolve longstanding issues stemming from the 2012 legal challenge.

Background
The Saint Catherine’s Monastery, a cornerstone of Orthodoxy and Hellenism, has faced existential threats since the 2012 Egyptian court case initiated by local authorities. The current bill and diplomatic efforts aim to secure its assets and status, fostering cooperation between Greece and Egypt.

Published: July 31, 2025, 09:36 PM AEST