Pat. Theophilos Summons Abp. Damianos of Sinai Over Monastery Dispute
Theophilos III orders the abbot to appear before the Synod in Jerusalem amid allegations of canonical violations and unrest at St. Catherine’s Monastery.
JERUSALEM — His Holiness Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem has issued a formal summons to Archbishop Damianos of Sinai, citing “canonical and other offenses” and the resulting scandal within the Church over recent events at St. Catherine’s Monastery.
In a Patriarchal Letter dated August 21, 2025, Theophilos expressed the “deep sorrow” of the Jerusalem Patriarchate and instructed the archbishop to appear before an extraordinary session of the Holy and Sacred Synod on September 8.
His Holiness ordered Damianos to reopen the monastery gates and expel “illegitimate residents” causing unrest, warning that failure to act would deepen the crisis.
The letter invoked the apostolic command to “stand and hold fast to the traditions” and emphasized the responsibility of the Patriarchate to safeguard the Church’s institutions.
The letter is published in full below:
“To His Eminence Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan and Raith,
His Eminence Archbishop Damianos, beloved brother in the Lord and co-celebrator of Our humility, a holy embrace in Jesus Christ.
With deep sorrow, but also out of Our responsibility in the Lord for safeguarding the institutions handed down by Our Fathers, as the divine Paul states, “stand and hold fast to the traditions which you have been taught” (2 Thessalonians 2:15), We communicate through this Patriarchal Letter to you, Most Holy Brother, about the events taking place in Sinai, which grieve and scandalize the Church.
Our Modesty, expressing the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, of which you are bishop and from which you received the third degree of priesthood, taking into account the canonical and other offenses, into which you are found to have fallen, and the scandal that was caused by them both to the Patras of the Holy Monastery of Sinai, but also to the fullness of the Body of Christ, that is, the Church, INVITES you to Jerusalem, to appear and be excused before the extraordinary assembly, on Monday, August 26 / September 8 current year, Session of the Holy and Sacred Synod.
In order to avoid further scandal and for the sake of pacifying the unjustly expelled Fathers from the Holy Monastery, through other means and interventions, we command you to open the gates of this and to quickly release every illegitimate person who has taken up residence and is causing scandal and unrest.
We await your immediate compliance and, in a spirit of love, your arrival at the seat of the Patriarchate, wishing all grace and wisdom to your Holiness from the Most Holy and Life-giving Sepulcher and we remain.
In the Holy City of Jerusalem, on the 21st of August 2025.
With our Patriarchal blessings,
THEOPHILOS III
Patriarch of Jerusalem
Previously, UOJ reported that Archbishop Damianos of Sinai had appealed to the governments of Egypt and Greece for protection, warning that his life is at risk following violent clashes at St. Catherine’s Monastery.
