Mount Athos: We express “fraternal support in Christ” to Sinai Brotherhood

The Holy Community of Mount Athos issued a statement clarifying the purpose of its recent letter to the Brotherhood of the Holy Monastery of Mount Sinai, following reports and commentary that emerged after the letter was made public.

According to the statement, the decision to send the letter was motivated solely by a desire to express “fraternal support in Christ” for the fathers of the Holy Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount Sinai.

The Holy Community stressed that it deliberately refrained from addressing the matter in greater detail, expressing hope for a resolution of the issue at the technical level.

“There was no other purpose or intention, nor can any further dimension be attributed to it,” the statement emphasized.

The Holy Community added that, following this explicit clarification, it considers that “there is no room for different interpretations, political exploitation or ulterior motives.”

The statement comes amid public discussion surrounding the situation of the historic Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai.

It was signed by all representatives and superiors of the 20 Holy Monasteries of Mount Athos participating in the joint assembly.