The abbot of the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St Catherine in Sinai, Archbishop Damianos, announced on Thursday that he has initiated the process for his succession.
In a lengthy written statement, Archbishop Damianos reportedly said he has informed the Greek government of his decision, noting that it is in line with earlier discussions held with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece.
“Since it is now clear that the Holy Sinai Brotherhood agrees on the strategic goals and tactical methods for addressing the existential crisis facing the monastery to which I have dedicated my life, the time has come for me to take responsibility and ensure the succession process,” the 91-year-old clergyman said. “This process begins immediately and must be completed quickly, but in the proper way, so that the Brotherhood, united, can focus on solving the great problem it faces.”
He added that the procedural details will be finalized in the coming days.
Archbishop Damianos came under fire by a group of some 10 monks in St. Catherine’s monastery who claimed several accusations against him, including an agreement with Greece to grant the Monastery a special status in the country.
St Catherine’s Monastery belongs to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and indirectly to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.
The Greek government tried to intervene in the tension in Sinai and sent a high-ranking official to the monastery to achieve a compromise solution. It did not work.
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem called on Damianos to Jerusalem for explanations about the situation in the St Catherine Monastery, ordered him to removed people who don’t belong there [*bodyguards for his protection] and indirectly advised him to resign after having served the abbot’s post for over four decades.
Since end of July, when the rebel monks demanded Damianos to be deposed, ugly and heavy accusations were exchanged between the two groups that badly exposed the morals of the monks community and challenged the faithful.
