Archbishop Damianos of Sinai to Resign Amid Monastery Crisis

OCP News Service – 09/09/2025

Cairo – Egypt: Archbishop Damianos of Sinai has announced his resignation, effective September 12, 2025, from his positions as Abbot and Archbishop of Sinai. The decision comes amidst a period of internal turmoil and legal disputes at the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine, which he has led for over 50 years.

In an official statement, Archbishop Damianos said his resignation is intended to “facilitate the functioning of the Holy Monastery” and “safeguard its future.” He emphasized that his decision is guided by the unity of the Sinai Brotherhood and that he is lifting ecclesiastical censures and expulsions of monks to allow all to participate in the election of his successor.

The Archbishop has called for an end to all legal disputes, warning that continued lawsuits would only perpetuate division and “negative publicity.” He has also announced a General Assembly of the Monastery Fathers for Sunday, September 14, to elect a new Abbot and Archbishop.

The announcement comes after months of conflict between Archbishop Damianos and a group of dissenting monks who have accused him of financial misconduct, mismanagement, and an extended absence from the monastery. The crisis also involves a wider jurisdictional dispute between the Jerusalem Patriarchate, which sides with the monks, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which has historically supported Archbishop Damianos.

In a recent statement, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem said it considered Archbishop Damianos a “departing Archbishop canonically subject to the Ancient Patriarchate of Jerusalem,” while also accusing him of introducing “suspicious persons” into the monastery. The Ecumenical Patriarchate, however, has expressed its support for Damianos as the “lawful and canonical” leader.

Archbishop Damianos’s resignation is a significant development in a complex situation that has drawn the attention of the Greek and Egyptian governments. The conflict also involves concerns over a recent Egyptian court ruling that affects the monastery’s property rights. In his statement, the Archbishop reflected on his personal journey and offered his support to his successor. He will retire to the monastery’s properties in Athens.

Source:

OCP News Service