Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem has intervened regarding the ongoing crisis at Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, issuing a sternly worded statement calling on Archbishop Damianos of Sinai to open the gates of the historic monastery.
While the Patriarch of Jerusalem has no authority to issue binding directives on the monastery’s internal governance, he is within his rights to summon Archbishop Damianos to appear before the Patriarchate and the Holy Synod to provide an explanation of recent events.
In an official statement, the Patriarchate said:
“The Patriarchate of Jerusalem, within the framework of its canonical jurisdiction, having accepted the petitions submitted in July of the current year by the Archbishop of Sinai and the Fathers of the Holy Monastery of Sinai, and in view also of the present circumstances of the utmost gravity, which scandalize the faithful Body of the Church and create numerous problems for the proper functioning of the Holy Monastery, hereby instructs His Eminence Archbishop Damianos of Sinai to open the gates of the Holy Monastery and to undertake every necessary initiative, so that all individuals who do not belong to the Sinai Brotherhood may be immediately and courteously removed.
Furthermore, His Eminence is called to return to Jerusalem, as Bishop of the 24th Episcopal See of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, according to the ancient Taktikon, in order to provide further explanations concerning the events that have taken place.
The Sinai Brotherhood, for its part, is urged to remain calm, to re-enter the Holy Monastery, and to ensure its orderly functioning in view of the forthcoming developments.”
