Archbishop Damianos: Sinai Monastery Law Is a Step Toward Historical Justice

Archbishop Damianos, Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai, welcomed the recent passage of a bill by the Greek Parliament granting official legal status under public law to the monastery’s representation in Greece. He described it as a historic moment that was long overdue:
“This bill should have been passed many years ago… Until today, the monastery was essentially suspended in midair,” the archbishop emphasized. The statement was reported by Orthodox Times.

According to Archbishop Damianos, the decision carries deep spiritual and national significance. “The Sinai Monastery is becoming a symbol of unity and cohesion. When Hellenism agrees and wills something, great things can be achieved,” he said, stressing that the matter is not only administrative but also a vital act of cultural and religious preservation.

He urged the Greek people to view the issue as one of national importance: “You are protecting not only a 5th-century monastery built under Justinian, but also the lives of the monks and the priceless treasures entrusted to the care of the monastery’s fathers and brothers.” The Archbishop also called for decisive action in Cairo to secure official recognition of the monastery’s legal status in Egypt.

“I have served this monastery for 61 years, and I hope that Egypt, our friendly nation, will recognize its legal personality — this time not for its dependencies in Greece, but for the central monastery itself,” Archbishop Damianos concluded.

It should be noted that the Greek government has officially resolved the legal status of Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai by adopting the proposed legislation. The bill, submitted by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, provides formal legal recognition to this ancient religious institution for the first time in 15 centuries.