Historic St. Catherine’s Monastery to Elect New Leader Amidst Ongoing Legal Challenges
Mount Sinai,Egypt - Following the recent resignation of Archbishop Damianos,St. Catherine’s Monastery, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery, is preparing to elect a new superior. The electoral process, announced by the monastery’s secretariat, comes after a period of intense dispute with the patriarchate and a recent Egyptian court ruling that threatened the monastery’s autonomy.
The election will unfold in distinct phases, beginning with the appointment of a chairman and secretary for the assembly, and the finalization of the voting member list – comprised of the Sinaitic Brotherhood. Subsequent steps include compiling a candidate list, approving an agreement outlining the relationship between the new superior and the Brotherhood, and establishing a formal electoral commission.
The need for a new leader arrives at a critical juncture for the 6th-century monastery, founded by Emperor Justinian I. Located at the foot of Mount Sinai – the site of the burning bush and the giving of the Ten Commandments – St. Catherine’s holds immense religious and past significance. It is indeed renowned for its preservation of Christian heritage, including the famed Sinai Library and a world-leading collection of pre-iconoclastic panel icons, and has historically nurtured influential figures like John Climacus and Gregory of Sinai.
However, in late May, an Egyptian court ordered the closure of the monastery, the confiscation of its assets to the state, and the expulsion of its clergy. This ruling, detailed in a report by Asianews, sparked important concern for the monastery’s future.
In his resignation letter, Archbishop damianos acknowledged the long history of challenges faced by St. Catherine’s, stating, “we have endured many storms and tempests,” and “faced many dangers… With steadfastness and persistence, I kept beyond the walls of our Monastery all those who sought to harm it.” He expressed deep worry over the current situation, emphasizing that the “grave issue of judicial confiscation and seizure of our Monastery’s property… threatens its very existence and historical continuity,” and noting the monastery’s current lack of legal recognition within Egypt.
Archbishop Damianos concluded by urging “unity and support” for the incoming abbot, advocating for a focus “far from personal ambitions and obsessions.” While mediation by the Greek government and intervention by the egyptian presidency reportedly resolved the immediate dispute, the underlying legal challenges remain, casting a shadow over the future of this enduring landmark of faith and scholarship.
