Greek envoy mediates crisis at Sinai abbey

Greek officials are working to ease a growing crisis at Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, where a dispute between Archbishop Damianos and monks opposing him is threatening to escalate.

Giorgos Kalantzis, Greece’s secretary-general for religious affairs, arrived at the monastery Monday to mediate. 

He met for hours with both sides to “map positions” and explore “a roadmap with specific steps and a timeline,” officials said.

The situation is described as “difficult and demanding to manage.”

Reports of Archbishop Damianos’ potential resignation have circulated, while legal actions by outside parties could create “new, more unfavorable faits accomplis” for the monastery’s status, sources said. 

Athens fears prolonged tensions could strain relations with Cairo.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate voiced support for Damianos, calling him “the lawful and canonical archbishop and abbot” and affirming the monastery’s centuries-old autonomous status. 

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem, however, issued a statement backing the “Sinai Brotherhood” and asserting its jurisdiction, omitting Damianos’ name – seen as siding with dissenting monks.

Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus urged unity: “Now is the time for true unity… to safeguard the ancient status of the Monastery of Sinai and its future.” 

He called on the Brotherhood to cooperate with Damianos “to protect the interests of the monastery and our nation.”