Internal divisions at St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai are threatening efforts to reach an agreement with Egypt over the institution’s property rights, as former Archbishop Damianos has launched a new attack on the Greek government and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
According to reports, the monastic brotherhood remains divided into three groups, with disagreements over the monastery’s leadership and the proposed settlement with Egyptian authorities.
The prolonged illness of Archbishop Symeon, who succeeded Damianos, has further delayed internal consultations. Church sources indicate that Symeon has yet to establish decisive influence over the competing groups.
Damianos Criticizes Mitsotakis
In a new statement, Damianos accused the Greek government of failing to protect the monastery’s property rights.
“The existence of the monastery is inconceivable without its inalienable right to property ownership,” he said.
He also criticized Mitsotakis, calling on the prime minister to personally defend the monastery’s interests.
Damianos rejected reports that he had acknowledged Egyptian state ownership of the monastery’s property and said he had issued a formal legal notice disputing the claim.
Meanwhile, reports have raised the possibility of Symeon resigning and Damianos temporarily returning to the monastery’s leadership.
Damianos remains the only archbishop formally recognized by Egyptian authorities, as a presidential decree recognizing Symeon has not yet been issued.
The leadership dispute began in 2025, when monks challenged Damianos, eventually leading to his resignation and Symeon’s election.
Egypt Agreement Remains Unresolved
Despite progress in negotiations between Athens and Cairo, the monastic brotherhood has not approved the proposed agreement.
The central dispute concerns whether the settlement would recognize the monastery’s ownership rights or merely guarantee continued possession, use and religious activities.
Pending legal proceedings in Egypt have added uncertainty. A recent prosecutorial recommendation rejected the monastery’s legal arguments, although it does not constitute a court ruling.
Greek opposition politician Rena Dourou has questioned the government’s handling of the negotiations and called for clarification on the monastery’s ownership rights.
Greek diplomatic sources have emphasized that the final decision on accepting any agreement rests with the monastic brotherhood.
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis has maintained contacts with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem as negotiations continue.
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