After months of turmoil at Mount Sinai’s Monastery of St Catherine, located on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Archbishop Damianos initiated the process of succession on Thursday (September 4), signaling his intention to step down. At 91, he acknowledged that speculation over his leadership has fueled the monastery’s internal unrest.
“In reaching my ninety-first year, I understand that many inside and outside the Monastery are preoccupied with the inevitability of my succession,” Damianos said in a statement. “This very thought has been the true cause of the internal crisis that erupted within the Sinai Monastery.”
The Archbishop added that the monastery’s challenges escalated following a ruling by the Court of Ismailia on May 28, 2025, which deepened what he described as an “existential crisis.”
Consultations with Athens and Constantinople
Mount Sinai Monastery of St Catherine Archbishop Damianos confirmed that he has informed the Greek government of his decision, aligning his plans with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece.
“Since it is now clear that the Sinai Brotherhood agrees on the strategic goals and practical methods to confront this crisis,” he noted, “the time has come for me to assume responsibility and guarantee the succession process. It must begin immediately and be completed swiftly, yet correctly, so that the Brotherhood may remain united and focus on solving the greater problem we face.”
The Archbishop emphasized that procedural details will be finalized in the coming days, in consultation with Egyptian authorities, the Greek government, and the Church of Greece.
Addressing allegations and hypocrisy within Mount Sinai’s Monastery of St Catherine
In his announcement, Damianos also referred to a woman targeted by dissenters within the monastery, identified only as A.S. He criticized what he called the “hypocrisy” of some monks over her involvement.
“Thanks to her, many Greeks first heard the term ‘synisaktis’ [a cohabitant in early Christian tradition],” he remarked. “Had this person been a man, the same circles would have poisoned the world with the same insinuations. The innuendos would have been even more shameful. This is the fate of hierarchs whom God has granted many years of life.”
Jerusalem Patriarchate issues challenge
The announcement from the Archbishop came just a day after the Jerusalem Patriarchate demanded that Damianos explain the crisis. The Patriarchate accused him of fostering instability and insisted he open the monastery’s gates, removing those who are not members of the Sinai Brotherhood.
The Patriarchate further summoned him to Jerusalem in his capacity as Bishop of the 24th Episcopal See of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, “according to the ancient order,” to provide additional clarifications.
Damianos, however, rejected the summons outright, claiming that the statement reflected “an imperial policy against the Monastery of Sinai, aiming to downgrade it to a mere monastery under the Patriarch of Jerusalem.”
Greek Foreign Ministry’s position on Mount Sinai’s St Catherine Archbishop intention to step down
Responding to the unfolding tensions, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its recognition of Damianos as the monastery’s legitimate representative.
“The issue of the Monastery is highly complex,” spokesperson Lana Zochiou said. “It has two distinct dimensions: one is intra-ecclesiastical, governed by the fundamental rules of the Church. In this domain, the Foreign Ministry does not intervene in the internal affairs of the Monastery. At the same time, we recognize Archbishop Damianos as its lawful representative.”
By maintaining this stance, Athens seeks to avoid direct involvement in the theological and jurisdictional disputes between Sinai and Jerusalem, while preserving diplomatic support for the monastery’s historical autonomy.
What lies ahead
The announcement by Damianos signals the beginning of a delicate transition that will likely reshape the future of one of Christianity’s most ancient monasteries. The coming days are expected to determine not only the monastery’s leadership but also its independence in the face of competing ecclesiastical and political pressures.
Whether the succession process can bring unity to the Sinai Brotherhood and shield the monastery from external interference remains the central question as this historic institution navigates an uncertain chapter.
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