Urgent Diplomatic Mission to Egypt: Sinai Monastery Crisis Threatens Greece-Egypt Relations

The General Secretary of Religious Affairs of Greece’s Ministry of Education, Giorgos Kalantzis, arrived in Egypt late yesterday to address a growing crisis at the historic Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai. The ecclesiastical dispute risks escalating into a diplomatic issue, potentially straining the delicate political relationship between Greece and Egypt.

Emergency Meeting in Athens

The urgency of Kalantzis’ visit follows a high-level meeting at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, where Greek officials, alongside representatives of the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, discussed the deteriorating situation. Sources indicate fears that the monastery could face a fate similar to the Esfigmenou Monastery on Mount Athos, where a long-standing conflict between monks and the recognized monastic community has led to a permanent schism.

The Esfigmenou Precedent

At Esfigmenou, a group of Old Calendarist monks, not recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate or other Mount Athos monasteries, remain entrenched in the historic monastery, creating an ongoing conflict with the officially recognized community. Greek authorities are keen to avoid a similar scenario at Sinai, where the monastery’s location on Egyptian soil complicates matters.

Delicate Greece-Egypt Relations at Stake

The Sinai Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated in Egypt, making the dispute a potential flashpoint for bilateral relations. A failure to resolve the issue could jeopardize the monastery’s legal status in Egypt and disrupt the strong ties between Athens and Cairo.

Kalantzis’ Mission to Sinai

Early this morning, Kalantzis embarked on a six-hour journey from Cairo to Sinai to broker an agreement between the conflicting parties. “Both the Abbot and Archbishop, as well as the dissenting monks, must find an immediate solution,” said senior officials from the Church of Greece, who have been in dialogue with both sides.

Efforts for a Compromise

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens have been working tirelessly to mediate between Abbot Archbishop Damian and the opposing monks. Reports suggest that draft agreements have already been exchanged in a bid to find a balanced resolution.

Monastery Closed to Visitors

The crisis has led to the closure of the monastery to pilgrims and visitors, a move that has frustrated Egyptian authorities, who are demanding its immediate reopening. Inside the monastery, Archbishop Damian and his supporters, including Greek and Egyptian laypeople, remain in the abbot’s quarters, while dissenting monks are housed in the guest quarters.

Critical Hours Ahead

The next 24 hours are deemed critical, with the outcome likely to shape the future of the monastery and its role in both religious and diplomatic spheres. Those who contribute to a peaceful resolution, observers note, will undoubtedly leave a mark on the “next day” of this historic institution.

(Source: To Vima)