Monastery of Sinai: Archbishop Damianos resigns as abbot – His letter

Archbishop Damianos has officially submitted his resignation from the presumption of abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai.

Earlier, arsenic protothema.gr had revealed, the Holy Sinai Brotherhood lifted each ineligible appeals, arsenic required by Egyptian law, successful bid to guarantee unity and a tone of reconciliation.

Next Sunday, September 14th, connected the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, “white smoke” is expected to emergence from Sinai, arsenic the succession process of the Archbishop, who withdrew aft 52 years astatine the helm of the Monastery, volition beryllium completed.

“I fearfulness for the aboriginal of the Monastery”
“With afloat consciousness of the decision of my 52-year work astatine the helm of our Monastery, I humbly taxable my resignation arsenic Abbot and Archbishop of Sinai,” the resignation missive states.

Admitting to “many mistakes,” Archbishop Damianos stressed that each enactment of his had arsenic a precedence the payment of the Monastery. “With steadfastness and persistence I kept extracurricular the walls of our Monastery those who plotted against it and inactive do. I bash not fell that I fearfulness for its future,” helium underlined. Leaving veiled references to caller events, helium expressed the anticipation that the champion and astir susceptible successor volition beryllium chosen. “He volition request the unity and enactment of all, acold from idiosyncratic ambitions and obsessions, specified arsenic those we unluckily witnessed recently, with the sole interest being the bully of our Monastery,” helium said.

The top problem: judicial confiscation and seizure of property
The Archbishop besides referred to the pressing issues facing the Monastery. “The top occupation of the judicial confiscation and seizure of our Monastery’s property, which has lone conscionable begun, threatens its precise beingness and humanities continuity. At the aforesaid time, our Monastery remains legally non-existent successful Egypt. The caller Archbishop indispensable beryllium recognized and granted Egyptian citizenship. The monks should person semipermanent residence permits alternatively of yearly ones. Our ineffable relics and treasures, our Library, indispensable stay nether the Monastery’s medication arsenic a backstage collection. Likewise, determination are besides large inter-Orthodox threats against the autonomy and canonical presumption of our Monastery,” helium stated.

“If I wronged anyone, I inquire forgiveness. And each those who, contempt my aged property and benefactions, exhausted me—I forgive them wherever they were right. For the rest, I await eden to speak! Above all, I humbly inquire forgiveness from the faithful Orthodox clergy and laity for the sedate ungraded caused,” helium noted successful his letter.

Full resignation letter

Metochion of Saint Catherine of Sinai – Athens, 12/09/2025

Resignation of Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan and Raitho – Damianos

“In tone I basal kneeling and tearful earlier the beatified reliquary containing the ineffable relics of my parent and nourisher, Saint Catherine the Great Martyr, the All-Wise and Patroness of Sinai.

I callback the infinitesimal of my monastic tonsure, 64 years ago, erstwhile barefoot astatine the Holy Bush I was adopted, becoming besides Her child. Since then, we person weathered galore storms and dangers, arsenic successful each period of our Monastery’s agelong history. Yet we besides enjoyed visits of grace, specified arsenic the blessed presences of the modern Saints Paisios, Porphyrios, and Eumenios.

I whitethorn boast successful Christ that usually lone love, affection, and extortion were enjoyed by the surviving and departed Sinai monks from me. My mistakes were many, but ever archetypal was the payment of our Monastery. With steadfastness and persistence I kept extracurricular its walls those who plotted against it and inactive do. I bash not fell that I fearfulness for its future.

Despite my volition and dreams, I undertook our Monastery knowing that, arsenic the slightest of all, I was acold beneath its worldly and spiritual stature and history. I did what I could for its worldwide prominence, combined with an tremendous restoration task wrong it. With afloat consciousness of the decision of my 52-year work astatine the helm of our Monastery, I humbly taxable my resignation arsenic Abbot and Archbishop of Sinai.

I commune that the Most Holy Theotokos, the Burning Bush Unconsumed, enlightens the Sinai Fathers to take the champion and astir susceptible to win me. He volition request the unity and enactment of all, acold from idiosyncratic ambitions and obsessions, specified arsenic those we unluckily witnessed recently, with the sole interest being the bully of our Monastery.

The top occupation of the judicial confiscation and seizure of our Monastery’s property, which has lone conscionable begun, threatens its precise beingness and humanities continuity. At the aforesaid time, our Monastery remains legally non-existent successful Egypt. The caller Archbishop indispensable beryllium recognized and granted Egyptian citizenship. The monks should person semipermanent residence permits alternatively of yearly ones. Our ineffable relics and treasures, our Library, indispensable stay nether the Monastery’s medication arsenic a backstage collection. Likewise, determination are besides large inter-Orthodox threats against the autonomy and canonical presumption of our Monastery.

Our steadfast supporters successful each these matters person been the Greek State, our Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Church of Cyprus, and the Church of Greece.

It goes without saying that if the caller Archbishop desires and calls for unity, which is simply a acquisition of the Holy Spirit, I volition basal by his broadside with my experience, love, and support.

If I wronged anyone, I inquire forgiveness. And each those who, contempt my aged property and benefactions, exhausted me—I forgive them wherever they were right. For the rest, I await eden to speak! Above all, I humbly inquire forgiveness from the faithful Orthodox clergy and laity for the sedate ungraded caused.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the emotion of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit beryllium with you all.

† Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan and Raitho
Damianos”