A Greek delegation will arrive in Cairo on Monday for crucial discussions regarding the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai, according to government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis.
Speaking to ERT News on Sunday, Marinakis emphasized the government's priority to protect “the Greek Orthodox and pilgrimage character of the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine.” He noted that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had clearly conveyed this to his Egyptian counterpart, with an agreement in place since May 7 to resolve the matter through institutional channels and with respect for religious traditions.
“A delegation will go to Egypt on Monday for final discussions,” Marinakis stated, expressing optimism for a “positive outcome” and the “uninterrupted continuation of the monastery’s operation.” He described the monastery as “one of the most emblematic Orthodox monasteries in the world” that “echoes the sensibilities of every Greek.”
The upcoming talks occur amidst a decade-long legal battle over the ownership of the land on which the 6th-century monastery and its surrounding properties stand. While the monastery possesses historical documents, including Ottoman decrees, attesting to centuries of ownership, its lack of formal registration under modern Egyptian law has been a key point of contention.
Recent legal developments have heightened concerns. Ismailia Court of Appeal ruled that while the monks retain the right to use the monastery and its associated religious and archaeological sites, the ownership belongs to the Egyptian state as public property. This decision upheld an appeal by the Egyptian state, challenging the monastery's claim to approximately 71 plots of land.
The court’s verdict stated that portions of the disputed lands are classified as nature reserves, and therefore cannot be sold or privately owned.
The ruling has been met with strong criticism in Greece, with Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece labeling it a “scandalous” infringement and warning of potential “seizure and confiscation” of the monastery's property. It is a spiritual and cultural landmark housing one of the world's oldest continuously operating libraries.
A draft settlement, finalized in December between the South Sinai Governor and the monastery's legal representative, Archbishop Damianos, aimed to resolve the dispute by affirming the monastery's property rights. However, this agreement remains unsigned, and the recent court decision appears to undermine its intended terms.
Marinakis strongly criticized the opposition parties for their “irresponsible and sloppy attitude” and for “rushed announcements” made “before they even read the decision.” He accused them of being “quick to politically exploit an issue of deep religious and national significance,” labeling their behavior as “not a serious attitude.”
Regarding statements from the clergy, including Archbishop Ieronymos, Marinakis acknowledged that “it is perfectly logical for them to express their anguish.” However, he assured that “the government has been seriously dealing with the issue for a year now, in order to provide an institutional solution and secure the rights of the monastery.”
Meanwhile, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s full commitment to preserving the unique religious status of the Monastery during a phone call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“El-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s respect for the sacred character of the site and vowed not to infringe upon it,” a statement by the presidency said.
The controversy has fueled debate over the continued presence of clergy at the monastery, which falls under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The surrounding areas are also undergoing development as part of Egypt’s broader efforts to boost religious tourism.
Before the presidential call, the Egyptian presidency issued a statement stressing the country’s “full commitment to preserving the sacred and unique religious status of Saint Catherine’s Monastery” and affirming that “the recent court ruling consolidates this status.”
Egypt’s state news agency MENA quoted a spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that rumors of the monastery and its surrounding lands being seized were false, stressing that “there will be absolutely no harm to Saint Catherine’s Monastery, its associated archaeological sites, its spiritual value, its religious status, or its cemeteries.”
Founded in the 6th century, Saint Catherine Monastery holds significant religious and cultural value and is home to the relics of Saint Catherine. It continues to draw thousands of Orthodox Christian pilgrims, especially from Greece, making it a vital spiritual and heritage landmark.
