Greece and Egypt agreed to continue talks on the future status of the Saint Catherine Monastery at Mount Sinai after a controversial ruling by a court in Cairo that designates surrounding monastery land as state property.
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis held a meeting in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty and stated that talks will continue in the immediate future to secure the rights of the monastery, as well as its legal status.
“The intention of both Egypt and Greece is to move forward based on the centuries-old tradition and the already established status of an emblematic monastery, given its Greek Orthodox religious character,” he added.
The Greek delegation that visited Cairo included officials and experts from the ministries of foreign affairs, culture, and education.
Gerapetritis’ visit to Cairo comes after an Egyptian court ruling stating that the areas surrounding the monastery, including its arable land and wells, are Egyptian state property and that the site would be under the supervision of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Athens fears that the decision will facilitate the transformation of the monastery from an active religious site to a museum for visiting tourists and pave the way for the eventual eviction of the monks since only the monastery’s head, Archbishop Damianos, holds Egyptian citizenship.
During the recent visit by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to Athens in early May and the meeting of the bilateral Supreme Cooperation Council, there were assurances from the Egyptian side that the monastery’s status will not be changing.
Cairo’s stance on the ownership issue remains unclear. Egypt has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the Monastery, emphasizing that a recent court ruling has further solidified its protected status.
However, while affirming the monastery’s religious character, Egyptian authorities have refrained from addressing the crucial matter of ownership, which has raised concerns among diplomatic circles. It is anticipated that Cairo may seek modifications to existing agreements, citing the independence of the Judiciary.
The reported court’s decision was met with outrage from religious leaders in Greece and surprise within the Greek government despite recent high-level diplomatic assurances.
Sinai Monastery was founded 15 centuries ago
The monastery, founded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian fifteen centuries ago, has long enjoyed global renown and respect. Despite numerous historical upheavals, it has miraculously endured.
Not only is it one of the oldest working Christian monasteries, but it also houses a library that preserves the second-largest collection of early codices and manuscripts in the world, outnumbered only by the Vatican Library.
The monastery, which is Orthodox, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is sacred to all three Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Related: Egypt Plans Mega City for Spiritual Tourism Near Sinai’s St. Catherine Monastery
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