Dramatic developments continue at the Sinai Monastery, which remains at a critical point, as the monks who were expelled after their failed coup attempt remain outside the gates.
In a statement on the TV show “10 Everywhere” on OPEN television, Archbishop Damianos said: “After 60 years in the monastery, for the first time I feel trapped, held hostage and almost imprisoned. I am asking to leave the monastery briefly to get the necessary medications and small items I need.” He requested intervention by Egyptian police to ensure his rights are protected.
Archbishop Damianos condemns siege at Sinai Monastery – “We are free but under siege”
Along the same lines, the abbot of Sinai Monastery issued a statement in which he characteristically said:
“Without medications, without food, without clothes.
Under orders from the chief coup plotter monk Hesychios Mohamed and local armed businessman Antonis Kazamias, local police authorities are not allowing medications, food and clothes into the monastery despite the efforts of the Greek ambassador who stands with us.
I appeal to the respected government of Egypt to ensure unimpeded entry of medications, food, clothes and other necessities for our survival into the monastery.
We are free but under siege inside the monastery to which we have dedicated our lives and we are fighting the ultimate battle for its future.”
Sinai Monastery: “Egyptian authorities violated diplomatic secrecy – They searched the Greek ambassador who wanted to enter the monastery to deliver medications to Archbishop Damianos”
For his part, the legal representative of Archbishop of Sinai Damianos, Christos Kompiliris, denounced dramatic situations during the night.
Mr. Kompiliris, speaking to OPEN, denounces a violation of diplomatic secrecy, as – he said – Egyptian authorities went so far as to search Greek Ambassador Nikolaos Papageorgiou, who wanted to enter the monastery to deliver medications to Archbishop Damianos.
According to him, the scenes that followed were literally dramatic. When the monastery doors opened, the 11 “coup plotters” attempted to enter and there were injuries.
“The monastery doors closed automatically. A monk, monk Akakios who supports the Archbishop, was injured. The coup plotters tried to get inside,” the legal representative of Archbishop Damianos noted characteristically.
Indeed, he emphasized: “The Greek ambassador went inside and monk Nymphon entered with him, and the monks who were outside tried to storm in.”
According to his accusations, Egyptian authorities searched the bags and suitcases that Greek Ambassador Christos Kompiliris had with him. “He had medications and they wouldn’t let him give them to Archbishop Damianos. The Greek ambassador departed from Saint Catherine’s Monastery of Sinai. The Archbishop doesn’t have his medications and the items remain outside the monastery.”
