In Athens, concern is mounting over a new complication in the prospect of reaching an agreement on the operational status of St. Catherine’s Monastery, due to the stance taken by the Jerusalem Patriarchate, as reflected in a statement it issued yesterday following the conclusion of meetings held by the three-member committee sent to Archbishop Damianos of Sinai and the rebellious monks at the monastery.
Yesterday, an emergency meeting was held in Athens to assess the situation and the new developments, with the participation of officials involved in discussions with the Egyptian side regarding the completion of the agreement.
The atmosphere is far from positive, and the statement by the Jerusalem Patriarchate caused both surprise and concern, especially since, according to sources familiar with the developments, the Patriarch had been advised not to take any action until the agreement with Egypt was finalized, a recommendation that was ignored. It is increasingly believed that the Jerusalem Patriarchate is acting with the primary goal of consolidating its role as the central interlocutor in all decisions concerning the future of St. Catherine’s Monastery.
This view is reinforced by the fact that, although the Patriarchate formed the three-member committee to examine the issue of the monks who opposed Archbishop Damianos and declared his removal as abbot of the monastery, informing the Jerusalem Patriarchate of their actions, yesterday’s statement made no reference to this matter. It should be recalled that Archbishop Damianos himself had requested that the Patriarch of Jerusalem repudiate the rebels who approached him to legitimize their actions, while they claimed they had acted from the start with his support.
The absence of any reference to the original event that triggered these developments has caused strong irritation in Athens, with a source closely monitoring all fronts emphasizing that, in essence, since the Patriarch of Jerusalem does not condemn the actions, it is as if he endorses and supports the organizers of the coup.
“On the occasion of the warm paternal interest and the providence of His Beatitude, as expressed through the Holy Sepulchre’s envoys, who were received with eagerness and gratitude by the Fathers, the importance of coordinated cooperation with the competent civil authorities was emphasized for the preservation of all traditional recognized statuses and special arrangements that accompany the Monastery throughout its timeless life. At the same time, it became clear that there is a general willingness, in the wisdom of time, to reconsider, as required, the necessary actions to maintain or even assert legitimate rights, in a spirit of calm dialogue,” reads the statement from the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
This reference is interpreted as a claim to an active role in the ongoing negotiations regarding the monastery’s status, despite Archbishop Damianos having clearly stated in a letter to Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem that St. Catherine’s Monastery is autocephalous and independent.
In a parallel development, yesterday Archbishop Damianos informed the rebellious monks of penalties of excommunication and, for those who are clergy, additionally of suspension. He also called on them to repent and ask for forgiveness. According to a reliable source, this again alters the landscape, as those who have accepted the penalties cannot participate in any administrative or canonical actions of the monastery, not even in the general assembly to which the Patriarch of Jerusalem refers for decision-making.
In Athens, there is widespread concern over the complications created by these recent developments for the prospect of reaching an agreement, as delays are already being noted compared to the situation about two weeks ago. The intricate behind-the-scenes maneuvering, involving third parties seeking to exploit the situation to expand their spheres of influence, appears to be seriously undermining efforts to resolve the pending issues regarding the monastery’s status.
Source: Kathimerini
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
