On Saturday, 5/18 October 2025, at 15:30, the bells of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre rang joyfully, announcing the beginning of the Great Festive Vespers. The Service was celebrated in the Monastic and Patriarchal Church of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Saints Constantine and Helen, presided over from the Throne by His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III.
At the conclusion of Vespers, His Beatitude departed, accompanied by Archdeacon Mark, while the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archimandrite Christodoulos, remained in the Church and read the Record (Memorandum) of the Election of His Grace Archimandrite Symeon as Archbishop-Elect of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho. Thereafter, each of the Synodical Members, in the established order, reverently entered the Holy Altar and signed the Register of Election Records.
Then, in accordance with the Order of the Church of Jerusalem, the Elder Dragoman of the Patriarchate, Archimandrite Mattheos, accompanied by the Kavassides—the official staff-bearers during Patriarchal ceremonies—and the two Escorting Archimandrites, the Exarch of Athens Ieronymos, and the Elder Kamarasis Nectarios, proceeded to the residence where His Grace the Elect was awaiting them. There, in solemnity, the so-called “Small Message” was delivered to him—that is, the decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod regarding his election. The Elect received the announcement with gratitude and replied with the customary Small Message, humbly expressing his acceptance of the election.
Thereafter, they returned to the Patriarchal Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, where the Service of the Great Message commenced, namely, the formal act of accepting the Election. During this simple yet profoundly moving Service, the Elect, vested in epitrachelion and phelonion, censed the Holy Church while the chanters sang the Trisagion in slow rhythm. Together with the Hierarchs and clergy present, the choir chanted the Apolytikion and the Kontakion of Pentecost, after which His Grace offered prayers for His Beatitude, our Father and Patriarch Theophilos.
Before the dismissal, the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod read aloud the signed Record of the Election, and the Elect proclaimed the Great Message, formally accepting his election as Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho. The Polychronion for His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem followed, in an atmosphere of festivity and joy.
After the Service, the Synodical Members, the Elect, the members of the Holy Sepulchre and Sinai Brotherhoods, along with the pilgrims, proceeded in procession to the Hall of the Throne. There, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, received them with paternal affection, and the Elect venerated His Beatitude’s hand. Then His Beatitude addressed the Archbishop-elect of Sinai as follows:
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Cor. 14:33), Paul proclaims.
Your Grace, Hegumen and Archbishop-Elect of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho, Symeon,
The all-powerful grace of the Holy Spirit and the Peace from God the Father have entrusted unto you the abbatial ministry of the Holy and Royal Monastery of Saint Catherine, as well as the pastoral and episcopal care of the Archdiocese of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho, which is under the jurisdiction of our Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
We pray that the Holy Triune God may grant unto you health of body and soul, every perfect gift, and the enlightening energy of the Holy Spirit, both for your encouragement and strengthening in the lofty and divine Apostolic ministry you have undertaken; and likewise, for the edification of the souls of your monks labouring in the Holy Monastery of the God-trodden Mount, and for the sanctifying formation by the Holy Spirit of the members of the Christ-named flock of the most holy Archdiocese of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14). Amen.”
In reply, His Grace said the following:
“Your Beatitude, Father and Master,
With feelings of deep emotion and heartfelt unity, I come before Your Beatitude in order to receive Your deified prayers and Holy Blessing for what is to be accomplished concerning me.
Your Patriarchal blessing and your wise words are utterly essential for the ministry entrusted to me through Your Beatitude and the Holy Hierarchs around you, by Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
The trust of the Sinai Brotherhood in my humble person is joined by the confidence of the Holy Hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, who, at Your special exhortation and blessing, elected me Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho.
I devoutly entreat Your Beatitude, together with the Holy Hierarchs and the Fathers of Jerusalem around You, to pray always for the Shepherd and the members of the Sinai brotherhood, that we may duly fulfil our duty before the Triune God, our patron Saint Catherine the Great Martyr, and the centuries-old history of the Monastery of Mount Sinai.”
Thereafter, His Grace read his handwritten entry in the Register of Records of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and affixed his signature. The ceremony concluded in the office of the Chief Secretariat with the signing of the relevant Code No. 22 concerning the Hierarchs of the Throne of Jerusalem, in the presence of the Elder Chief Secretary, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archimandrite Christodoulos.
From the Chief Secretariat
