Monastery of Sinai: New Archbishop is Archimandrite Symeon Papadopoulos

Father Symeon Papadopoulos has been elected the caller Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho, and assumes the presumption of abbot of the Monastery of Saint Catherine astatine Mount Sinai.

The members of the Holy Sinai Brotherhood were unanimous successful their prime of the caller abbot, arsenic helium was elected with 19 votes retired of 20. His ain ballot was blank, successful accordance with past custom. Reports bespeak that some sides voted for the caller abbot and determination was nary quality implicit the procedure.

His predetermination is considered a affirmative development, arsenic the caller Archbishop is regarded arsenic mild-mannered and conciliatory, portion besides cooperative with Greece. Most importantly, the result of the ballot lays the groundwork for the reunification of the community, truthful that the caller Archbishop tin look the challenges ahead—the astir pressing being the overturning of a tribunal determination concerning the Monastery’s property. Archbishop Symeon volition beryllium the 1 to motion the statement with the Egyptian state, which volition nary longer beryllium capable to invoke pretexts to prolong the stalemate.

With the predetermination of the caller abbot, an extremity was enactment to the turbulent succession process of former Archbishop Damianos, who officially resigned aft 52 years astatine the caput of the Monastery.