European Parliament Raises Concern Over the Future of Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai

Vice-President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Giannis Maniatis, addressed the critical situation surrounding Saint Catherine’s Monastery — the oldest continuously operating monastery in the world — during a plenary session of the European Parliament. This was reported by Orthodox Times.

According to Maniatis, a recent decision by an Egyptian court stripped the monastery of all property rights, including ownership of its buildings. As a result, the monastery now depends entirely on the goodwill of the Egyptian state, while the monks have become “guests,” holding only short-term residence permits.

Maniatis emphasized that this development threatens the very survival of the monastery, which has a 1,500-year history. The Socialist group in the European Parliament intends to revisit the issue during the July session, particularly in light of the ongoing macroeconomic assistance provided by the EU to Egypt.

“We will continue to advocate for the protection and sustainability of this unique sanctuary,” Maniatis stated.

It is worth noting that the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Daniil, has sent a letter of support to the abbot and brotherhood of the Monastery of the Great Martyr Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai, which is now under threat of closure due to actions by the Egyptian authorities. The Patriarch expressed concern over the situation and hope that the monastery’s status will remain unchanged and that its 1,500-year legacy will continue.