Archbishop Damianos has officially submitted his resignation from the position of abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai.

Earlier, as protothema.gr had revealed, the Holy Sinai Brotherhood lifted all legal appeals, as required by Egyptian law, in order to ensure unity and a spirit of reconciliation.

Next Sunday, September 14th, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, “white smoke” is expected to rise from Sinai, as the succession process of the Archbishop, who withdrew after 52 years at the helm of the Monastery, will be completed.

“I fear for the future of the Monastery”
“With full awareness of the conclusion of my 52-year service at the helm of our Monastery, I humbly submit my resignation as Abbot and Archbishop of Sinai,” the resignation letter states.

Admitting to “many mistakes,” Archbishop Damianos stressed that every action of his had as a priority the welfare of the Monastery. “With steadfastness and persistence I kept outside the walls of our Monastery those who plotted against it and still do. I do not hide that I fear for its future,” he underlined. Leaving veiled references to recent events, he expressed the hope that the best and most capable successor will be chosen. “He will need the unity and support of all, far from personal ambitions and obsessions, such as those we unfortunately witnessed recently, with the sole concern being the good of our Monastery,” he said.

The greatest problem: judicial confiscation and seizure of property
The Archbishop also referred to the pressing issues facing the Monastery. “The greatest problem of the judicial confiscation and seizure of our Monastery’s property, which has only just begun, threatens its very existence and historical continuity. At the same time, our Monastery remains legally non-existent in Egypt. The new Archbishop must be recognized and granted Egyptian citizenship. The monks should receive long-term residence permits instead of annual ones. Our sacred relics and treasures, our Library, must remain under the Monastery’s administration as a private collection. Likewise, there are also major inter-Orthodox threats against the autonomy and canonical status of our Monastery,” he stated.

“If I wronged anyone, I ask forgiveness. And all those who, despite my old age and benefactions, exhausted me—I forgive them wherever they were right. For the rest, I await heaven to speak! Above all, I humbly ask forgiveness from the faithful Orthodox clergy and laity for the grave scandal caused,” he noted in his letter.

Full resignation letter

Metochion of Saint Catherine of Sinai – Athens, 12/09/2025

Resignation of Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan and Raitho – Damianos

“In spirit I stand kneeling and tearful before the holy reliquary containing the sacred relics of my mother and nourisher, Saint Catherine the Great Martyr, the All-Wise and Patroness of Sinai.

I recall the moment of my monastic tonsure, 64 years ago, when barefoot at the Holy Bush I was adopted, becoming also Her child. Since then, we have weathered many storms and dangers, as in every century of our Monastery’s long history. Yet we also enjoyed visits of grace, such as the blessed presences of the modern Saints Paisios, Porphyrios, and Eumenios.

I may boast in Christ that usually only love, affection, and protection were enjoyed by the living and departed Sinai monks from me. My mistakes were many, but always first was the welfare of our Monastery. With steadfastness and persistence I kept outside its walls those who plotted against it and still do. I do not hide that I fear for its future.

Despite my will and dreams, I undertook our Monastery knowing that, as the least of all, I was far beneath its material and spiritual stature and history. I did what I could for its worldwide prominence, combined with an enormous restoration project within it. With full awareness of the conclusion of my 52-year service at the helm of our Monastery, I humbly submit my resignation as Abbot and Archbishop of Sinai.

I pray that the Most Holy Theotokos, the Burning Bush Unconsumed, enlightens the Sinai Fathers to choose the best and most capable to succeed me. He will need the unity and support of all, far from personal ambitions and obsessions, such as those we unfortunately witnessed recently, with the sole concern being the good of our Monastery.

The greatest problem of the judicial confiscation and seizure of our Monastery’s property, which has only just begun, threatens its very existence and historical continuity. At the same time, our Monastery remains legally non-existent in Egypt. The new Archbishop must be recognized and granted Egyptian citizenship. The monks should receive long-term residence permits instead of annual ones. Our sacred relics and treasures, our Library, must remain under the Monastery’s administration as a private collection. Likewise, there are also major inter-Orthodox threats against the autonomy and canonical status of our Monastery.

Our steadfast supporters in all these matters have been the Greek State, our Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Church of Cyprus, and the Church of Greece.

It goes without saying that if the new Archbishop desires and calls for unity, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit, I will stand by his side with my experience, love, and support.

If I wronged anyone, I ask forgiveness. And all those who, despite my old age and benefactions, exhausted me—I forgive them wherever they were right. For the rest, I await heaven to speak! Above all, I humbly ask forgiveness from the faithful Orthodox clergy and laity for the grave scandal caused.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

† Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan and Raitho
Damianos”