As if the “command” from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem to Archbishop of Sinai, Mr. Damianos, to open the gates of the Monastery and to do… the necessary things to remove from the Monastery those who do not belong to the Sinaitic Brotherhood, were not enough, the Patriarch of Jerusalem personally addresses Archbishop Damianos.
In a new letter posted shortly after the announcement of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Theophilos addresses Archbishop of Sinai regarding “the events taking place in Sinai, which grieve and scandalize the Church.”
The Patriarch of Jerusalem essentially “reminds” Mr. Damianos that he is a Bishop of the Patriarchate and invites him to appear before the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate on September 8 “taking into account the canonical and other offenses, into which you are found to have fallen, and the scandal that was caused by them both to the Patras of the Holy Monastery of Sinai, but also to the fullness of the Body of Christ, that is, the Church.”
Finally, he invites him – in order to avoid further scandals and for the sake of pacifying the unjustly expelled Fathers from the Holy Monastery – to open the gates of the Monastery and to quickly release every illegitimate person who has taken up residence and is causing scandal and unrest.
You can read the letter of Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem, wrote the following letter addressing His Eminence Archbishop Damianos of Sinai:
“To His Eminence Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan and Raith,
His Eminence Archbishop Damian, beloved brother in the Lord and co-celebrator of Our humility, a holy embrace in Jesus Christ.
With deep sorrow, but also out of Our responsibility in the Lord for safeguarding the institutions handed down by Our Fathers, as the divine Paul states, “stand and hold fast to the traditions which you have been taught” (2 Thessalonians 2:15), We communicate through this Patriarchal Letter to you, Most Holy Brother, about the events taking place in Sinai, which grieve and scandalize the Church.
Our Modesty, expressing the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, of which you are bishop and from which you received the third degree of priesthood, taking into account the canonical and other offenses, into which you are found to have fallen, and the scandal that was caused by them both to the Patras of the Holy Monastery of Sinai, but also to the fullness of the Body of Christ, that is, the Church, INVITES you to Jerusalem, to appear and be excused before the extraordinary assembly, on Monday, August 26 / September 8 current year, Session of the Holy and Sacred Synod.
In order to avoid further scandal and for the sake of pacifying the unjustly expelled Fathers from the Holy Monastery, through other means and interventions, we command you to open the gates of this and to quickly release every illegitimate person who has taken up residence and is causing scandal and unrest.
We await your immediate compliance and, in a spirit of love, your arrival at the seat of the Patriarchate, wishing all grace and wisdom to your Holiness from the Most Holy and Life-giving Sepulcher and we remain.
In the Holy City of Jerusalem, on the 21st of August 2025.
With our Patriarchal blessings,
THEOPHILOS III
Patriarch of Jerusalem
