Egyptian Presidency Affirms Saint Catherine’s Monastery’s Sacred Status After Court Ruling; Dispels Seizure Rumors

Gerges Mounir Hanna – OCP News Service – 31/05/2025

Cairo – Egypt: The Egyptian Presidency on Friday, May 30, 2025, issued a strong statement reaffirming its unwavering commitment to preserving the unique and sacred religious status of Saint Catherine’s Monastery, following a recent court ruling that had sparked public debate. The Presidency’s communiqué asserted that the ruling aligns with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s remarks in Athens on May 7, 2025, reinforcing the monastery’s inviolable position.

This official confirmation came after the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson, initially affirmed that the ruling does not alter the monastery’s historical status, which dates back more than fifteen centuries.

The Presidential statement read: “The Presidency reaffirms its full commitment to preserving the unique and sacred religious status of Saint Catherine’s Monastery and not compromising it under any circumstance. The recent court ruling strengthens this status and aligns with what the President emphasized during his visit to Athens on May 7. The statement underscores the importance of maintaining the close and brotherly relations between the two countries and their friendly peoples and avoiding any disturbance to these ties.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official spokesperson further clarified that widespread allegations regarding the “confiscation” of lands belonging to the monastery are entirely unfounded. The spokesperson noted that the full text of the court ruling clarifies the facts and confirms the preservation of the monastery’s spiritual, religious, and historical character.

While both Egyptian statements addressed the “operational status of the monastery,” they notably did not include any reference to property ownership of the core monastery grounds. However, they did mention that some distant, uninhabited areas, classified as nature reserves and without official ownership documents, fall under state property.

Prior to these official Egyptian statements, Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis had affirmed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ commitment to protecting the Greek Orthodox identity of Saint Catherine’s Monastery. Marinakis stated that an official position from the Greek government would be announced once the full court ruling text was reviewed. In a related development, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis had contacted his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdel Atty, to reiterate Greece’s firm stance that “there can be no deviation” from the mutual understanding regarding the monastery’s status.

According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, the ruling in no way threatens the existence of the monastery, its historical buildings, churches, or monks’ cemeteries. On the contrary, it marks the first time an Egyptian court has explicitly recognized and legitimized the monastery’s status, preserving its sacred character. The spokesperson added that some surrounding areas, despite being classified as nature reserves through agreements with local authorities, continue to be used by the monastery for religious and heritage purposes, a point affirmed by the court.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on media outlets and concerned parties to act responsibly, avoid spreading misinformation, and refrain from drawing premature conclusions, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the centuries-old historic and brotherly ties between Egypt and Greece.

The court ruling, issued on May 28, 2025, specifically addressed remote, uninhabited areas classified as “natural reserves” surrounding the monastery, not the monastery itself or its immediate properties. It confirmed that these distant areas, lacking official ownership documents, are legally considered state lands under Egyptian government administration.

Background: Saint Catherine’s Monastery, one of the world’s oldest Christian monasteries located in South Sinai at the foot of Mount Moses, holds a unique religious, spiritual, and historical status within the Orthodox Church and has a longstanding relationship with the Egyptian state. It has always been regarded as a religious entity with unique autonomy.

This ruling and the subsequent official clarifications underscore Egypt’s commitment to maintaining the sanctity of this revered site and fostering strong, historical diplomatic ties.

Source:

OCP News Service