Sinai: meeting at St Catherine's Monastery to elect new superior
An extraordinary general assembly is set for tomorrow morning. Abbot Damianos resigned recently following internal tensions and a clash with Patriarch Theophilos III. In the past few months, the historic building was the subject of a (contested) expropriation order by Egyptian authorities.
Cairo (AsiaNews) – At a critical juncture in its history, following months of controversy and tensions over an expropriation order by an Egyptian court, St Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai, the oldest still-operating monastery in the world, convened an extraordinary general assembly.
The Sinaitic Brotherhood called a meeting for tomorrow morning at 11:00 am to appoint the new (Greek Orthodox) abbot and archbishop and overcome a period of deep divisions and internal problems.
Some monks had called for Archbishop Damianos to be removed, who were disavowed, opening a rift that saw the intervention of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Primate Theophilos III.
Summoned by the latter to appear before the Holy Synod (the assembly of Orthodox bishops) on 8 September, the abbot chose not travel to the holy city but instead submitted his letter of resignation and definitive departure of the monastery.
According to the statement issued by the secretariat of the historic Christian place of worship, the electoral process will follow specific phases in the nomination of Archbishop Damianos’s successor.
This decision follows a period of intense conflict and controversy with the patriarch, in addition to the shadow that hangs over the very future of the monastery, although mediation by the Greek government and intervention by the Egyptian presidency appear to have resolved the dispute (for now).
The first phase involves the appointment of the chairman and secretary of the assembly, followed by the completion of the list of regular members of the Sinaitic Brotherhood and those eligible to vote in the elections.
The next step is the compilation of the list of candidates, the approval of the text of the agreement between the archbishop and the Brotherhood, the determination of the details of the electoral procedure, and the appointment of the electoral commission.
Located at the foot of Mount Sinai, the sacred monastery of St Catherine is a testament to the enduring legacy of faith, scholarship, and interreligious harmony.
Founded in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian I, it is the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery in the world and stands on the site where God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and beneath the mountain of the Decalogue, where he entrusted him with the Tablets of the Law.
The site has nurtured saints such as John Climacus and Gregory of Sinai, preserving the most precious archaeological and spiritual heritage of Christianity. Among the many examples are the famous Sinai Library, with its ancient manuscripts and the world's most important collection of pre-iconoclastic panel icons.
In late May, Egyptian authorities, with a court ruling, ordered the closure of the monastery, confiscated its assets, transferring them to the state, and ordered the expulsion of the clergy.
In his letter of resignation, Archbishop Damianos referred to the difficulties and threats the monastery has faced in its long history, during which “we have endured many storms and tempests,” and “faced many dangers… With steadfastness and persistence, I kept beyond the walls of our Monastery all those who sought to harm it.”
At the same time, he expressed concern for the monastery's future, pointing to serious challenges.
“The grave issue of judicial confiscation and seizure of our Monastery’s property, which has just begun, threatens its very existence and historical continuity. At the same time, our Monastery remains legally non-existent in Egypt.”
In concluding, he stressed the need for “unity and support” around the new abbot, “far from personal ambitions and obsessions.”
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27/06/2025 14:26
