Jerusalem Patriarchate Statement Sparks Tensions Over St. Catherine’s Monastery Talks
Athens fears delay in agreement with Egypt as rebels face excommunication.
ATHENS — Efforts to finalize an agreement on the operational status of St. Catherine’s Monastery have hit a new snag after the Jerusalem Patriarchate issued a statement seen in Athens as a bid to position itself as the key decision-maker in the monastery’s future, according to reporting from Greek news site Kathimerini.
The statement followed a visit by a three-member Patriarchate committee to Archbishop Damianos of Sinai and a group of monks who had sought his removal. Athens officials, who met in emergency session Wednesday to assess the fallout, expressed surprise and concern, with sources alleging the Patriarch had been advised to hold off on public action until talks with Egypt concluded.
The Patriarchate’s announcement, which omitted any condemnation of those who voted to depose Archbishop Damianos, is being interpreted in Greece as tacit support for the attempted ouster. Meanwhile, Archbishop Damianos has issued excommunication orders against the dissident monks—along with suspensions for clergy—calling on them to repent and ask forgiveness and barring them from all administrative and canonical roles in the monastery.
Sources warn that the dispute is already delaying progress compared to two weeks ago, with behind-the-scenes maneuvering by outside actors threatening to derail a resolution.
Previously, UOJ reported that Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria had commended the Egyptian presidents' "love and concern for the Greek Orthodox Church in Egypt," calling it a precious treasure.
