JERUSALEM, Israel | The long-simmering crisis at Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai escalated Sunday, as the Patriarchate of Jerusalem openly contradicted the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s position and declared its support for the Sinai Brotherhood.
“The Patriarchate of Jerusalem fully supports the Sinaitic Brotherhood, recognizing the rights of the Fathers of the Holy Monastery, as these have been enshrined in its fundamental regulations and safeguarded throughout its centuries-old monastic tradition,” the statement said.
The announcement confirmed earlier reports suggesting Jerusalem had aligned itself with the monks challenging Archbishop Damianos of Sinai.
“This support is expressed within the framework of the spiritual and canonical jurisdiction exercised by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem,” the communiqué continued — an implicit signal to Constantinople not to interfere.
The message also carried a pointed reference to Athens: “In this context, the patriarchate lends its support and calls upon the Hellenic state and all other relevant parties concerned to cooperate in order to safeguard the canonical order and to restore peace and unity within the Holy Monastery.”
