The Church of Greece has called an emergency meeting of its Standing Holy Synod to address the escalating dispute over Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai, as efforts continue to reach an agreement with the Egyptian state before a critical legal deadline.
The meeting, held on the morning of Thursday, October 22, comes just two days before the October 24 deadline for the publication of a ruling by Egypt’s Supreme Court of Cassation. According to information that has emerged, the decision is expected to be unfavorable to the monastery.
The immediate objective is to reach an out-of-court agreement that would safeguard the monastery’s interests and secure recognition of its legal status and rights.
Archbishop Ieronymos moves to support Sinai’s leadership
The emergency session underscores the importance that Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece attaches to the issue.
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Beyond briefing the Church of Greece’s metropolitan bishops on the latest developments, the meeting is intended as a concrete show of support for Archbishop Symeon of Sinai, Pharan and Raitho, who has taken responsibility for negotiating an agreement with the Egyptian state, with discreet but firm assistance from the Greek government.
Symeon is recovering from a serious illness, adding to the significance of the support being expressed at a particularly difficult moment for the monastery.
The Church of Greece could also play a unifying role in efforts to build consensus, given its ties to Greek society and the country’s political forces.
Orthodox churches express support for Symeon
Support for Symeon has extended beyond Greece. Letters expressing confidence in his leadership have come from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Church of Greece and the Church of Cyprus.
The emergency meeting also comes amid reported efforts to bridge divisions within the monastery’s leadership. Reaching an understanding among the different factions could create room for the diplomatic initiatives needed to defend the monastery’s status and avert an unfavorable court ruling.
Former Sinai archbishop opposes agreement
The dispute has also prompted intervention from Damianos, the former Archbishop of Sinai, who sent a letter to Ieronymos and members of the Permanent Holy Synod.
In the letter, Damianos criticizes the Greek government and says he agrees with those he describes as the “coup plotters against him,” who refuse to sign what he calls a “shameful agreement.”
He is calling for intervention to prevent the monastery from signing an agreement with the Egyptian state.
The competing positions reflect the divisions surrounding the negotiations, as church leaders seek a way forward before the Egyptian court’s deadline expires.
The Church of Greece’s intervention is aimed at supporting Symeon and encouraging unity at a pivotal moment for the historic monastery, while diplomatic efforts continue to seek a settlement with Egypt.