Mt. Sinai monastery elects new abbot

Mt. Sinai, September 15, 2025

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The brotherhood of St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mt. Sinai unanimously elected Archimandrite Symeon (Papadopoulos) as its new abbot yesterday. He succeeds Archbishop Damianos, who formally resigned on Friday after 52 years leading the monastery.

According to the voting results, Archimandrite Symeon received 19 votes, with his own vote being left blank according to ancient custom. Both sides of the brotherhood ultimately united around his candidacy without any challenge to the process. This clear victory without dispute is considered an important foundation for establishing a climate of unity and consensus at the monastery, reports parapolitika.gr.

Fr. Symeon served at St. Catherine’s dependency in Alepochori, Greece, and studied philology and theology. His election brings an end to the turbulent succession process following Abp. Damianos’ resignation.

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The Holy Monastery and Archbishopric of Sinai issued the following statement:

Today, on the 1st (old calendar) / 14th of September of the year 2025, the Holy Sinaitic Brotherhood elected as its father and abbot of the Royal and Autonomous Holy Monastery of the God-trodden Mount Sinai, from among its brothers, Archimandrite Symeon (Papadopoulos).

According to sources, the new abbot possesses all the characteristics that will lead the brotherhood into the next chapter and bring definitive peace among the fathers following the crisis that tested the historic monastery.

The General Assembly’s decision is now expected to be communicated to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, followed by the process for the consecration of the new abbot and Archbishop of Sinai.

Another major challenge will be the recognition of the new abbot by the Egyptian state and granting him Egyptian citizenship so he can represent the monastery in all matters with the government.

The last time the Sinaitic Brotherhood held an election for a new abbot and Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan and Raitho was in 1973, when Abp. Damianos was elected.

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9/15/2025

See also
Jerusalem Synod accepts Archbishop Damianos’ resignation from Mt. Sinai Jerusalem Synod accepts Archbishop Damianos’ resignation from Mt. Sinai Jerusalem Synod accepts Archbishop Damianos’ resignation from Mt. Sinai Jerusalem Synod accepts Archbishop Damianos’ resignation from Mt. Sinai
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s Holy Synod has accepted Abp. Damianos’ resignation from St. Catherine’s Monastery, following months of internal conflict and a legal crisis threatening the monastery’s religious status. Crisis at St. Catherine’s Monastery: conflicting accounts of leadership dispute Crisis at St. Catherine’s Monastery: conflicting accounts of leadership dispute Crisis at St. Catherine’s Monastery: conflicting accounts of leadership dispute Crisis at St. Catherine’s Monastery: conflicting accounts of leadership dispute
A serious leadership crisis has erupted at St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mt. Sinai, with two opposing factions presenting dramatically different accounts of recent events at the historic site. Internal crisis erupts at St. Catherine’s Monastery amid legal battle with Egypt Internal crisis erupts at St. Catherine’s Monastery amid legal battle with Egypt Internal crisis erupts at St. Catherine’s Monastery amid legal battle with Egypt Internal crisis erupts at St. Catherine’s Monastery amid legal battle with Egypt
A dramatic internal conflict has erupted at the ancient St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mt. Sinai, where 15 monks have moved to depose their longtime abbot, His Eminence Archbishop Damianos, amid an ongoing legal crisis that threatens the monastery’s very existence.

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