Archbishop Symeon Enthroned, the Status of the Monastery in the Spotlight.

Archbishop Symeon Enthroned, the Status of the Monastery in the Spotlight

By Dionysios Skliris, ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ

October 31st, 2025

In the presence of the His Beatitude, Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III and the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the enthronement of Archbishop Symeon of Sinai took place today at the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine. ...

The Ecumenical Patriarchate was represented by Metropolitan Demetrios of the Princes' Islands, the Patriarchate of Alexandria by Metropolitan George of Guinea, while the Churches of Greece and Cyprus were jointly represented by Bishop Christopher of Karpasia. Metropolitans Hesychios of Capitolias and Nicodemus of Memphis also participated. According to the typikon, the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos handed over the pastoral rod to Archbishop Simeon, while the "Axios" was exclaimed by the clergy and laity.

The Prime Minister made contacts with the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, and with the monastic brotherhood of Sinai. On Saturday, November 1st, Prime Minister Mitsotakis is expected to attend the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza (GEM), at the invitation of the President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. It conveys satisfaction with the continuation of negotiations with the Egyptian authorities with a view to determining the legal status of the Sinai Monastery in Egypt.

The continuation and safeguarding of the worship and Greek Orthodox character of the Monastery is considered important, for which there is reportedly a preliminary common understanding between Greece and Egypt, while the recognition of the ownership of the Monastery over its properties remains more difficult.

An important issue remains the preservation of the centuries-old character of the Monastery, its non-museumization and ensuring the possibility for the monks to remain in Egypt more permanently, with longer residence permits.

The presence of the Prime Minister and ministers of the Greek government reveal the political priority given to keeping the Sinai Monastery an epicenter of Orthodoxy and ecumenical Greek culture in a region of critical geopolitical importance. It is recalled that this is the second trip of the prime minister to the Sinai Peninsula in three weeks, as on October 13 he had attended the Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.

In order to reach the agreement with Egypt, an internal reconciliation in the Monastery was a necessary condition. This was expressed, among other things, by the fact that the new Archbishop of Sinai, Faran and Raitho, Mr. Symeon, officiated on Sunday, October 26, at the dependency of the Sinai Monastery in Athens, with the co-prayer of the former Archbishop of Sinai, Damianos. In his speech, the new Archbishop of Sinai expressed gratitude for his predecessor, emphasized the institutional and spiritual continuity and praised the contribution of the former Archbishop of Sinai Damianos to the preservation and global influence of the Monastery, that projects a message of unity. He particularly emphasized the responsibility for the mission of the Sinai Monastery towards history.

Source: https://www.tovima.gr/2025/10/31/society/sina-enthronistike-o-neos-arxiepiskopos-sto-epikentro-to-kathestos-tis-monis

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His Beatitude, Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, expressing the concern of the Church of Jerusalem for the preservation of the Holy Places, made the following appeal:

“To the honourable Egyptian governmental authorities, that they may ensure the protection and safeguarding of the Holy Monastery, its age-old sacred status quo, and the sanctity of the surrounding area of the God-trodden Mount Sinai, as it has been respected and maintained to this day.”

He further added: “At this particular and historic moment, in the presence of distinguished personalities, we call upon both to cooperate for the protection of this sacred site and its long-standing tradition, in full awareness and high sense of responsibility before history, of which we all become both part and witness.”