ATHENS, Aug 7, 2025 — The crisis at St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai escalates as a three-member committee from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem arrives in Athens to address internal conflicts within the Sinai Brotherhood. The committee, led by Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, alongside Archimandrites Ieronymos and Christodoulos, aims to restore ecclesiastical harmony and make a final canonical decision regarding the monastery’s leadership, particularly the controversial push by 15 monks to depose Archbishop Damianos, the monastery’s abbot for over 50 years.
The crisis stems from internal dissent and a contentious Egyptian court ruling in May 2025, which declared the monastery’s lands state-owned, granting the monks only usage rights. This decision sparked outrage among Greek Orthodox leaders, with Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens condemning it as a “violent violation” of religious freedoms, accusing Egypt of threatening the monastery’s existence. The monks closed the monastery’s gates to visitors in protest, highlighting fears of property confiscation and potential eviction.
Egyptian authorities, including President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, have denied intentions to seize the monastery, reaffirming its sacred status during diplomatic talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. However, no formal agreement was signed during a recent meeting between Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, leaving the issue unresolved and fueling skepticism among ecclesiastical circles.
Critics point to the Egyptian government’s “Great Transfiguration” project, launched in 2021, as a potential motive, alleging it prioritizes tourism over the monastery’s heritage. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem, asserting its jurisdiction, has vowed to monitor developments closely, while the Greek government faces pressure to act decisively to protect the monastery’s Orthodox identity.
The Synod’s upcoming decision will be pivotal, but questions linger about whether it will address deeper systemic issues or merely delay the crisis.
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