A significant religious event took place at St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai, as the newly elected Archbishop of Sinai, Faransky, and Raif Simeon was formally enthroned in a solemn ceremony on October 31. The enthronement was led by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, according to Orthodoxia News Agency.

The ceremony was attended by prominent figures including Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Minister of Education Sofia Zacharaki, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou, Secretary-General for Religious Affairs Georgios Kalandzis, as well as representatives from the Egyptian government. Metropolitan Dimitrios of Geron, representing the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew, and Metropolitan George of Guinea, representing Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, were also present. The Cypriot and Hellenic Churches were represented by Bishop Christophoros of Karpassos.

Patriarch Theophilos III, accompanied by a delegation from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, delivered a powerful address underscoring the spiritual and historical significance of the event. He described the enthronement as “not merely an administrative act, but a matter of the grace of the Holy Spirit and a manifestation of Divine Providence.” He also called on Egyptian authorities to continue safeguarding the sacred status of the monastery and preserving its historical integrity.

In his own remarks, Archbishop Simeon expressed deep gratitude for the trust placed in him, stressing that his election and ordination were “a response to the Divine call, not a product of human ambition.” He referred to his service on Mount Sinai as a "cross of love and humility" and thanked Patriarch Theophilos, whom he described as a “teacher and protector.” Simeon also reaffirmed his commitment to preserving the autonomy of the ancient Sinai Monastery, a tradition established since the Byzantine era.

The enthronement marks the end of a challenging period for the Sinai Monastery, which had recently been embroiled in disputes over its legal status. Earlier this year, internal conflicts led to the resignation of the former abbot, Archbishop Damian. The new archbishop's leadership promises to maintain the spiritual legacy of the monastery, one of the oldest Christian centers in the world, which has been a place of prayer and cultural exchange between East and West since the reign of Emperor Justinian.

The ceremony is seen as a new chapter for the monastery, which has weathered political and theological storms in recent times, and is hoped to usher in a period of stability and renewed spiritual focus.