A court ruling in Egypt threatens the centuries-old heritage of St. Catherine's Sinai Monastery

The ancient Christian monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is facing a serious threat to its centuries-old existence. A court ruling in Egypt has stripped the monastery of ownership of its vast properties, causing deep concern in the Orthodox world and criticism of the Greek government for diplomatic inaction.

According to Greek publication Vima Orthodoxias, an Egyptian court has issued a ruling that transfers rights to the monastery’s historic lands to local entities, ignoring the monastery’s ownership rights established as far back as the sixth century by Emperor Justinian. This situation develops against the backdrop of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ visit to Cairo to attend the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which, according to the publication, emphasizes the “brilliance and lack of substance” in the authorities’ actions.

Despite the high level of Greek representation in Cairo, the issue of the monastery’s status was not raised during official meetings. The Greek Foreign Ministry has remained silent, while there are no written guarantees or agreements to ensure that the dispute is resolved in favor of the monastery. The situation is exacerbated by internal divisions within the monastic community, which have not ceased even after the change of abbot.

Representatives of the clergy express serious concern. “St. Catherine’s Monastery is a symbol of Orthodoxy and our spiritual identity. The state is obliged to protect its historical autonomy,” a high-ranking clergyman of the Jerusalem Patriarchate told the publication, emphasizing that this is not just a legal dispute, but “a matter of national responsibility and international prestige.” Concern about the situation was also expressed in the Patriarchate of Constantinople, urging the Greek authorities to intervene immediately.

Earlier, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that a preliminary understanding had been reached with Egypt on the legal status of the historic monastery of St. Catherine in the Sinai Peninsula. This agreement is aimed at resolving a centuries-old problem, which has recently escalated due to a court ruling, and at ensuring the protection of one of the key shrines of the Orthodox world.