Mitsotakis at the enthronement of the new Archbishop of Sinai, Mr. Symeon – “It is our National duty to care for the monastery”

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the enthronement ceremonial of the caller Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan and Raitho, and Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine of Mount Sinai, Mr. Symeon. The ceremonial took spot successful the beingness of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Theophilos III, and representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Churches of Greece and Cyprus.

Speaking of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine, the Prime Minister said:

“It is simply a nationalist work to support our continuous involvement successful the Monastery’s captious spiritual and taste mission, and a rightful work to assistance those who sphere our traditions astatine the acold reaches of this peninsula.”

Mitsotakis’ Address astatine the Ceremony

“Your Beatitude, Most Reverend Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan and Raitho, and Abbot of the Greek Orthodox Holy Royal Autonomous Monastery of Saint Catherine of the God-Trodden Mount Sinai,
distinguished representatives of Patriarchates and Churches,
venerable Fathers of Sinai,
Honorable Minister of Culture of the Arab Republic of Egypt,
Honorable Deputy Secretary of State of the United States,
distinguished guests,

It is simply a chiseled grant for maine to beryllium present contiguous arsenic Prime Minister of Greece, attending the enthronement of the Archbishop of Sinai and caller person of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine. I bring with maine the respect, love, and blessings of the Greek people, and I basal present to affirm that Greece volition proceed to beryllium contiguous and supportive astatine each measurement forward.

The Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine, founded connected the God-Trodden Mount Sinai much than 15 centuries ago, is the oldest Christian monastery successful the world. It stands arsenic a bastion of Orthodoxy, a beacon of spiritual virtue, a historic awesome of our identity, and a living grounds of Greek and Christian spirit — arsenic good arsenic a span of relationship betwixt Greece and Egypt.

It is truthful our national duty to support ongoing interest for the Monastery’s important spiritual and taste ngo and our rightful indebtedness to assistance those who sphere our traditions successful this distant portion of the peninsula.

We are alert that caller times person not been without turbulence, arsenic assorted events caused impermanent unrest wrong the Church. Yet, existent to its agelong history, the Sinai Brotherhood showed patience, spiritual discernment, and steadfast faith, emerging unscathed and renewed successful unity.

Your unanimous predetermination and today’s enthronement, Your Eminence, people the opening of a new epoch of unity and brotherhood wrong the assemblage of the Fathers. The associated efforts of the Greek and Egyptian governments person already paved the mode to guarantee the Monastery’s liturgical character, rights, and the extortion of its monks are preserved successful perpetuity.

On behalf of the Greek Government, I privation to explicit deep respect and gratitude to His Beatitude, the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, whose beingness contiguous lends spiritual brilliance and blessing.

And to you, Your Eminence, the caller Abbot, delight judge my warmest congratulations and champion wishes arsenic you presume your ineffable duties.

It is our shared anticipation that the Monastery of Saint Catherine volition proceed to radiance arsenic a beacon of Orthodoxy, preserving its ascetic and monastic contented — with Greece ever by its side, a steadfast state and supporter.

From my heart, I privation you longevity, wisdom, and fruitful ministry. Axios — worthy are you.”

After the ceremony, the Prime Minister venerated the Holy Relics and toured the Treasury and different areas of the Monastery. He besides held backstage meetings with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Archbishop Symeon, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas.

Later, successful a statement, Mitsotakis said:

“With heavy emotion and a consciousness of grant and gratitude, I correspond the Greek Government connected this important time of the authoritative enthronement of the caller Archbishop of Sinai, Mr. Symeon, present successful this ineffable spot that has kept live the occurrence of Orthodoxy for 1,500 years.

I privation to reaffirm that the Greek Government volition ever basal beside the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine, supporting it truthful that this unsocial and peculiar legacy, entrusted to america by our ancestors, whitethorn beryllium preserved for eternity.

I privation the caller Archbishop spot successful his caller duties and guarantee him that helium tin ever number connected Greece’s support. Greece, having forged fantabulous relations with the authorities of Egypt, is ever acceptable to assistance successful resolving immoderate contented that whitethorn arise.”