Greece and Egypt reach agreement on the status of St. Catherine's Sinai Monastery

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that a preliminary understanding has been reached with Egypt on the legal status of the historic St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula. The agreement aims to resolve the centuries-old issue, which recently escalated due to a court ruling, and to ensure the protection of one of the key shrines of the Orthodox world.

Speaking in Parliament, the Greek head of government emphasized that the agreement was the result of intensive consultations between the foreign ministers of the two countries. “I can now announce to parliament that a preliminary understanding has been reached between the parties,” Orthodoxy.ru quoted the prime minister as saying. Mitsotakis also condemned speculation and misinformation surrounding the issue, calling it “cheap exploitation” by those who ignore historical facts.

Key provisions of the agreement guarantee that the status of the monastery remains “forever protected and unchanged.” According to the prime minister, any changes to the monastery itself or other places of worship are strictly forbidden, and measures have been taken to ensure the continued presence of the monastic community. However, the final decision to approve the arrangements rests with the Sinai Brotherhood. The agreement reaffirms Greece’s active role in protecting the historical and religious significance of the shrine.

The negotiations were initiated after an Egyptian court ruling earlier this year obliging the monks to vacate several plots of land and religious buildings they have used for centuries. The out-of-court agreement reached, to be signed by the monastery’s management and Egyptian authorities, is intended to finally resolve the dispute and ensure the continued unhindered functioning of the monastery.

Recall, September 14, 2025 in the Monastery of St. Catherine the Great Martyr on Mount Sinai held elections for a new abbot of the monastery. Archimandrite Simeon Papadopoulos, head of the Sinai Metochion in Alepochora, became the new abbot.