The historic Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, Egypt, is at the heart of a growing ecclesiastical dispute that could strain Greece-Egypt relations. Greece’s General Secretary of Religious Affairs, Giorgos Kalantzis, arrived in Cairo yesterday to mediate between Abbot Archbishop Damian and dissenting monks. Following an emergency meeting at Athens’ Maximos Mansion, fears mount that the monastery could face a schism similar to Mount Athos’ Esfigmenou Monastery. With the monastery closed to pilgrims and Egyptian authorities pressing for a resolution, the next 24 hours are critical for finding a compromise to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site and bilateral ties.
Tag: Archbishop Damian
Tensions have escalated at Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, where Archbishop Damianos faced a confrontation with dissenting monks upon his arrival on August 26. Accusing them of attempting to seize control, the Archbishop, supported by loyal monks and Bedouins, expelled the rebels, declaring that the monastery has “returned to legality and normalcy.” The ongoing dispute, rooted in a vote by 15 monks to remove Damianos, has prompted intervention from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, with a delegation set to address the crisis.
