Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the enthronement of Abbot Symeon at St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai on Thursday, declaring the preservation of its Greek Orthodox character a “national duty.” His presence signalled the end of a diplomatic rift with Egypt over a court ruling transferring monastery lands to the state, with both sides now “very close” to a final agreement that secures the site’s religious autonomy and operational future.
Tag: Patriarch Theophilos
Tensions are mounting in the Orthodox Christian world as Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew publicly urged Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem to join the 1,700th anniversary celebration of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Speaking at a vespers service in Istanbul, Bartholomew called for unity among the historic Pentarchy patriarchs, expressing concern over Theophilos’ silence on the event. The strained relations, compounded by Theophilos’ recent unannounced visit to Turkey and ties with Moscow, highlight a critical moment for Orthodox unity.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reaffirmed the enduring support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Patriarchate of…
Archbishop Damianos of Sinai has initiated his succession process while sharply criticizing Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem for contributing to an “ecclesiastical coup” and deepening Orthodox divisions. Blaming the Moscow Patriarchate for global Orthodox discord, he calls for unity to protect the Sinai Monastery’s autonomy and sacred status amid an existential crisis.
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.
On Clean Wednesday, March 5, 2025, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem presided over the Divine Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, accompanied by bishops, priests, monks, nuns, and pilgrims. The service was followed by a tour of the sacred sites led by His Eminence Archbishop Isidoros, with Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni joining the delegation.
