LAST UPDATE: 31/10/2025, 08:10
The enthronement of the new Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan and Raithu, Symeon Papadopoulos, will take place today at the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai, marking a new beginning for the historic monastery and the local church.
The monastic community of the monastery unanimously elected Archbishop Symeon, with the official approval of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. On October 18, 2025, his election was announced during the Great Vespers ceremony at the Patriarchal Church of Saints Constantine and Helen in Jerusalem. The Archbishop-elect then accepted the election and received blessings and congratulations from Patriarch Theophilos III and the Holy Synod.
The ordination of the new archbishop took place on October 19, 2025, at the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The Patriarch of Jerusalem presided over the ceremony. Hierarchs and representatives of churches from various countries attended the ceremony. Afterward, Archbishop Symeon addressed the assembly, expressing gratitude and pledging his dedication to his new responsibilities.
A few days before his enthronement, Archbishop Symeon visited Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece to seek his blessing before traveling to Sinai for his formal installation. He received congratulations from other Orthodox churches, including Patriarch Elijah II of Georgia, during this time.
Tomorrow’s ceremony at the Monastery of Saint Catherine, the oldest continuously operating Christian monastery, will officially bring the new Archbishop to his historic seat, completing the ecclesiastical process that began with his election and ordination. Faithful and church representatives are expected to attend the ceremony with reverence. It marks the continuation of tradition and spiritual life at the Monastery of Sinai.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
