Albanian Church voices support for Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Sinai

Sinai Monastery. Photo: see-sights.com

The Orthodox Church of Albania has officially expressed its full support for the historic Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai, its abbot – Archbishop Damianos of Sinai – and the entire Sinai brotherhood, emphasizing that the monastery is enduring a time of severe trials.

The statement speaks of the special significance of Orthodox monasticism on Sinai, which for centuries has been a symbol of peaceful coexistence between Christianity and Islam: “The presence of Orthodox monks at the monastery has been respected by all ruling authorities throughout the centuries, making it a symbol of coexistence between Christianity and Islam.”

The Albanian Church warns of threats related to possible changes in the monastery’s legal status: “Any disruption of the brotherhood or conversion of the monastery into a museum due to changes in property status would be catastrophic, with immeasurable consequences.”

The Church expressed its full solidarity with the Sinai monastics and appealed to state and international organizations “to make every effort to safeguard the historical status of the monastery and ensure the uninterrupted continuation of its sacred mission.”

The statement concludes by stressing the monastery’s unique importance to the entire Orthodox world: “The historic monastery on the God-trodden Mount Sinai is an invaluable treasure of Orthodox spirituality and of the world’s cultural heritage. For centuries, the monastery has preserved rare manuscripts and codices, including the famous Codex Sinaiticus.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Sinai is under threat of closure due to an Egyptian court decision.

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