Father Symeon Papadopoulos has been elected the new Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho, and assumes the position of abbot of the Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai.

The members of the Holy Sinai Brotherhood were unanimous in their choice of the new abbot, as he was elected with 19 votes out of 20. His own vote was blank, in accordance with ancient custom. Reports indicate that both sides voted for the new abbot and there was no dispute over the procedure.

His election is considered a positive development, as the new Archbishop is regarded as mild-mannered and conciliatory, while also cooperative with Greece. Most importantly, the outcome of the vote lays the groundwork for the reunification of the community, so that the new Archbishop can face the challenges ahead—the most pressing being the overturning of a court decision concerning the Monastery’s property. Archbishop Symeon will be the one to sign the agreement with the Egyptian state, which will no longer be able to invoke pretexts to prolong the stalemate.

With the election of the new abbot, an end was put to the turbulent succession process of former Archbishop Damianos, who officially resigned after 52 years at the head of the Monastery.