New Abp. of Sinai Arrives in Jerusalem for Consecration
Patriarchate of Jerusalem prepares for historic ceremony marking new chapter for St. Catherine's Monastery.
JERUSALEM — A landmark four-day period has begun for the Patriarchate of Jerusalem as preparations are underway for the consecration of the newly elected Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho and Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai, His Grace Symeon. The ordination will be held on Sunday, October 19, at the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem, presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III.
As reported by Orthodoxia News Agency, this will be the first episcopal ordination for the See of Sinai in 52 years, following that of Abp. Damianos in December 1973. The Sinai Brotherhood now enters a new era after Abp. Damianos’ long tenure, with hopes of stability following months of internal tension and ongoing efforts to finalize a legal agreement with the Egyptian government regarding the monastery’s status.
Archbishop-elect Symeon, who was chosen by the Brotherhood on Sept. 14, 2025, with 19 votes, seeks to guide the monastery forward in unity and to continue its 17-century mission as a spiritual and cultural bridge among Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
High-level representation from Greece will attend the ceremony, including Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis—who will deliver a greeting—and General Secretary for Religious Affairs George Kalantzis. Both were part of recent diplomatic talks with Egypt concerning the monastery’s legal standing.
The ordination weekend will include official meetings between the Patriarch and Archbishop-elect Symeon, the signing of the Registry of Memoranda, the Service of the Great Message at the Church of Ss. Constantine and Helen, and the ordination Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, followed by an official luncheon at the American Colony Hotel. Abp. Symeon will return to Sinai on Monday after a final meeting with the Patriarch.
A full schedule of events for the weekend, as shared by Orthodoxia News Agency, is listed below:
Friday, 4/17 October 2025
14:30 – Arrival of His Grace Archbishop-elect Symeon of Sinai and his entourage at Ben Gurion Airport.
16:00 – Arrival at the Gloria Hotel.
18:30 – Private meeting of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem with His Grace Archbishop-elect Symeon of Sinai, Faran and Raitho.
19:30 – Dinner in honor of His Grace and His entourage at the Notre Dame Hotel.
Saturday, 5/18 October 2025
10:00 – Meeting of His Grace with His Beatitude.
11:00 – Handwritten completion of the Code of Memoranda by His Grace at the Chief Secretariat of the Patriarchate.
15:30 – Great Vespers in the Holy Church of Saints Constantine and Helen.
17:00 – Service of the Great Message by His Grace Archbishop-elect Symeon of Sinai, Faran and Raitho in the above church.
17:30 – Ascent to the Throne Room. Address by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem – Address by His Beatitude Archbishop-elect Symeon of Sinai, Faran and Raitho.
Sunday, 6/19 October 2025
08:00 – Descent of the Patriarchal and Hierarchical entourage to the Holy Church of the Resurrection. Dressing of the Hierarchs, beginning of the Ordination Service and the Divine Liturgy, presided over by His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem.
12:30 – Ascent to the Throne Room; addresses and responses. Address by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem – Address by His Eminence Symeon, Archbishop of Sinai, Faran and Raitho. Address by His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Mr. Gerapetritis.
14:30 – Lunch in honor of His Eminence Archbishop Symeon of Sinai, Faran and Raitho, at the American Colony Hotel.
Monday, 7/20 October 2025
10:00 – Meeting of His Eminence Archbishop Symeon of Sinai, Faran and Raitho, with His Beatitude. Departure for Ben Gurion Airport.
Previously, UOJ reported that Archimandrite Symeon Papadopoulos, head of the Sinai Metochion in Alepochori, was elected the new Abbot of the Monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai.
