CAIRO, Egypt | Archbishop Damianos of Sinai has issued a strong appeal, demanding that the Egyptian government “ensure the unhindered entry into the monastery of medicines, food, clothing, and other necessities for survival.”
He further revealed that Egyptian authorities blocked the Greek Ambassador in Cairo from entering the monastery and delivering essential humanitarian aid.
The statement
“Without medicines, without food, without clothing. Acting under the orders of the coup-instigating monk Hesychios Mohamed and the armed local businessman Antonis Kazamias, the local police authorities are blocking medicines, food, and clothing from entering the monastery, despite the efforts of the Greek Ambassador, who stands by us.
I appeal to the esteemed government of Egypt to secure the unhindered entry into the monastery of medicines, food, clothing, and other necessities for our survival.
We are free men under siege inside the monastery to which we have dedicated our lives, now fighting the ultimate battle for its future.”
Legal action
In a separate statement issued shortly after midnight, Archbishop Damianos announced plans to pursue legal action in Greek courts against the allegations contained in a confidential memorandum signed by three “coup-plotting” monks.
*“It is extremely gratifying that, finally, all the parish gossip and the obscenities of the brothels have come to light with the signatures of specific persons, who now assume individual and written responsibility.
Thus they make possible the judicial review of their claims. Soon the Greek criminal and civil justice system will be called upon to rule on all the false, indecent, and slanderous statements contained in the disgraceful ‘memorandum.’
Naturally, all compensation awarded through the lawsuits will be donated to the Holy Monastery of Sinai.
I humbly apologize for the scandal caused to the faithful and I pray to God to forgive them for the incalculable damage they have inflicted—and continue to inflict—on the Holy Monastery and on the national effort to safeguard its status and its future.”
