Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the enthronement ceremony for the new Archbishop of Sinai and Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai, Simeon.
The ceremony was a major pan-Orthodox event, attended by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and representatives from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Churches of Greece and Cyprus.
Mitsotakis used his address to affirm Greece’s enduring commitment to the historic monastery, emphasizing its national and spiritual importance.
The Greek PM hailed the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine as a beacon of faith and history, calling it: “A ‘bulwark’ of Orthodoxy, a ‘lighthouse’ of spiritual virtue, a historical symbol of our identity, a living testimony of the Greek and Christian spirit, and, at the same time, a bridge of friendship between Greece and Egypt.”
He explicitly pledged Greece’s continued presence and assistance, describing the support as a national duty:
“It is a national duty, therefore, our enduring interest in the multifaceted spiritual and cultural mission of the Monastery and our reasonable obligation to provide every assistance to those who uphold our traditions in this remote part of the peninsula.”
“I am here today to confirm that Greece will continue to be present in every step that lies ahead and will be your supporter at every level.”
Mitsotakis on preserving the Sinai Monastery’s status
Mitsotakis acknowledged recent turbulence within the Church but commended the Sinai Brotherhood for their perseverance, promising that the Greek and Egyptian states are working together to secure the Monastery’s future:
“The efforts of the Greek and Egyptian states have already opened the way so that the worshipful character of the Monastery will be maintained in perpetuity, as will its rights and the protection of the monks who serve it.”
Following the enthronement, a tour of the Monastery, and private meetings with Patriarch Theophilos and US Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas took place.
Related: Greece, Egypt Agree on Mount Sinai Monastery, Mitsotakis Says
