Greece Grants Legal Status to the Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai

The Greek government has officially resolved the legal status of the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai by adopting a dedicated legislative bill. The document, introduced by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, grants formal legal recognition to this ancient religious institution for the first time in 15 centuries. The bill was brought before the Hellenic Parliament’s Standing Committee on Educational Affairs on July 25. The news was reported by Orthodox Times.

“The Greek State is practically confirming its determination to support the mission and work of the Holy Monastery and to protect its interests,” said Minister Sophia Zacharaki during the committee’s discussion. She emphasized that this is a historic initiative aimed at preserving a unique spiritual and cultural heritage: “We are preserving a treasure that belongs to all humanity. We demonstrate in practice that Greece is the cradle of Orthodoxy.”

Beyond the monastery issue, the bill includes several other provisions in the field of religious education and freedom of belief. It simplifies the admission process for international students to theological institutions in Greece. Specifically, up to ten candidates from Syria and Lebanon will be allowed to study at Greek universities upon recommendation of the Patriarchate of Antioch and with the agreement of the Church of Greece.

The bill also formally recognizes the religious legal status of the Bektashi-Alevi Muslim minority in Thrace and modernizes the outdated legal framework for licensing places of worship. “We, as a State, guarantee the unhindered exercise of the right to worship for all religious communities and their faithful, by establishing a modern, comprehensive, and coherent legal framework for places of worship,” Zacharaki stated.

Earlier, the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bandr Abdel Atik, denied media reports claiming that the Egyptian government intended to change the status of the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai. According to the minister, the state does not plan to alter the monastery’s status or expel the monks residing there.