Archbishop Symeon of Sinai, Pharan and Raitho was welcomed at the City Hall of Chania by Mayor Panagiotis Simandirakis, in the presence of deputy mayors and local officials.
During the meeting, the Mayor and the Archbishop exchanged views on the longstanding presence of the Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai in Chania, with particular reference to the historic dependencies (metochia) of the monastery in the region and their significant contribution to the ecclesiastical and cultural life of Crete.
Special emphasis was placed on the role of the Monastery of Sinai as one of the most important spiritual centers of Orthodoxy. Mayor Simandirakis highlighted the monastery’s centuries-long coexistence with the local tribes of the Sinai region in Egypt, as well as its enduring Greek cultural and spiritual identity, which has remained alive and unchanged throughout the centuries and continues to form an integral part of its heritage and tradition.
Archbishop Symeon, known for his serene presence and thoughtful words, shared reflections and experiences from the mission of the Archbishopric of Sinai, emphasizing the unique spiritual and cultural influence of the historic monastic center.
For his part, Mayor Simandirakis praised the monastery’s exceptional spiritual, cultural, and national legacy, as well as its contribution to preserving the Greek Orthodox tradition. He also underlined the strong and historic ties linking Chania with the Sinai monastic center and reaffirmed that the Municipality of Chania would continue to stand by the Archbishopric as a reliable partner in matters concerning its presence and activities in the region.
The visit concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts as a sign of mutual respect and appreciation.
