Crisis at the Monastery of Sinai: Internal Moves Cast Doubt on Abp. Damianos

Photo: Open source

SINAI — Rapid developments are unfolding at the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine at Sinai, where - according to information from Romfea.gr - an assembly of 15 monks was held, reportedly resulting in the decision to suspend Archbishop Damianos of Sinai, the Monastery’s Abbot.

This assembly, convened without the presence of the Archbishop himself, invokes the Monastery’s 1971 Internal Regulation, which provides that an Assembly may be convened at the initiative of two-thirds of the brotherhood, regardless of the Abbot’s consent. However, questions are arising about the legality and canonicity of the procedure, as well as whether the conditions set out in the Regulation were actually met.

Of particular interest is the participation of a monk said to have left the Monastery in 2017 and now residing on Mount Athos. Despite his departure, he reportedly took part in the decision as a full voting member.

According to the same sources, the background of this internal crisis seems to be linked to the recent passage of a bill in the Greek Parliament establishing a public-law legal entity to represent the Holy Monastery in Greece. Some members of the brotherhood express objections to the new provisions, perceiving them as interference in the functional and spiritual autonomy of the Monastery.

The reported decision of suspension is expected to be sent to the Patriarch of Jerusalem, raising questions about whether there was prior consultation with the Patriarchate and whether Archbishop Damianos had been informed or invited to respond before the decision was issued.

So far, there has been no official statement from the Holy Monastery, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, or the Greek state. Archbishop Damianos, according to reports, learned of these actions only recently and reserves judgment regarding the legality and validity of the process.

The situation remains fluid, with many questions still unanswered:

• Was there notification or approval from the Patriarch of Jerusalem?
• Were the canonical requirements for the removal of an Abbot met?
• Is the Greek government aware of the intra-church developments indirectly linked to its legislative initiative?

Previously, UOJ reported that the Hellenic Parliament passed a bill granting legal status under public law to the representation of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai in Greece

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