Archbishop Damian Calls Monks’ Letter to Patriarch Theophilos an Illegal Conspiracy

Archbishop Damian of Sinai, abbot of the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai, referred to a letter sent by a group of monks to Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem — requesting his intervention in the monastery’s internal affairs — as a “conspiracy.” According to the archbishop, the monks acted in violation of canonical procedure and without observing the monastery’s internal regulations. Archbishop Damian officially informed Patriarch Theophilos of the incident, according to Orthodoxia News Agency.

Media reports indicate that the meeting initiated by the monks was convened improperly: it was not presided over by either the archbishop or his lawful deputy (the dikaios), both of whom were in Greece at the time for discussions on a legislative proposal and a scheduled meeting with Egypt’s Foreign Minister. According to the monastery’s rules, such gatherings may be convened either by the abbot himself or by two-thirds of the brotherhood — but only upon formal written request to the abbot.

The monastery currently has 25 monks, meaning 17 signatures are required to initiate a general meeting. The letter to the Patriarch bears 15 signatures; however, one of the signatories — Hieromonk Pamphilos — is considered invalid, as he was officially transferred to the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos in 2017 and is no longer part of the Sinai brotherhood. Thus, the required number of valid signatures was not met.

Monastery sources stated that the initiators lack the necessary majority and that their actions are unlawful. Archbishop Damian further emphasized that the monks’ conduct violates the spirit of monastic obedience, infringes upon canonical order and the monastery’s statutes, undermines unity within the brotherhood, and poses a spiritual risk to pilgrims and the faithful.

It should be recalled that on July 30, 2025, a group of fifteen monks sent an official appeal to Patriarch Theophilos requesting the removal of Archbishop Damian from his post. The signatories cited a decision of the general assembly and expressed deep dissatisfaction with the abbot’s leadership, particularly in the context of a legislative proposal under discussion in Greece regarding the monastery’s status.