Delegation of Jerusalem Patriarchate urges Sinai monks to reconciliation

Members of the delegation of the Jerusalem Patriarchate and the brethren of the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Sinai during the meeting. Photo: Orthodox times

On August 11–12, 2025, a delegation from the Jerusalem Patriarchate visited the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai to help resolve a conflict that arose after some monks appealed to Patriarch Theophilos III to remove Archbishop Damianos of Sinai. This was reported by Orthodox Times.

The mission began on August 7 in Athens with a meeting with representatives of the archbishop's side, where claims against the monks, Abp. Damianos's position, and legal details of the dispute were discussed. The delegation included Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Archimandrite Ieronymos – the Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre in Greece, Archimandrite Christodoulos – Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, and Professor of Canon Law at Aristotle University Theodoros Yangos.

In Sinai, the delegation first met with Archbishop Damianos, then held talks with the monks who had previously demanded his removal. In an atmosphere of mutual respect, spiritual discretion and deep awareness of the graveness of the matter, issues of monastery management and property, interaction with authorities, and preservation of the monastery's special rules were discussed. The monks emphasized that they value the archbishop's personality despite the disagreements.

The parties expressed their readiness, "throught the wisdom of time", to reconsider their actions if necessary to preserve the monastery's legal rights and achieve peace. All contentious issues are planned to be reviewed at the upcoming General Assembly, as required by the charter, with decisions made in the spirit of unity and adherence to the canons.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Jerusalem delegation met with the abbot of Sinai to resolve the conflict.

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