Egypt committed to preserving St. Catherine's Monastery status: El-Sisi to Greek PM - Foreign Affairs

Al-Ahram Weekly

30-05-2025

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has assured Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Egypt's steadfast commitment to preserving "the unique religious status of Saint Catherine's Monastery" in South Sinai.
According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, El-Sisi told Mitsotakis in a phone call on Friday that a recent judicial ruling on the monastery reinforced this position.
He emphasised that there would be no infringement upon the monastery's sacred standing, the statement added.
On Wednesday, an Egyptian court affirmed the right of the monastery's adherents to use the monastic complex and its surrounding archaeological and religious sites.
It also stipulated that the state retain ownership of these sites as public property.
According to the statement, the president noted that the verdict "is consistent with Egypt's commitment to preserving the sanctity of religious and ecclesiastical sites and affirms the heritage, the spiritual value, and the unique religious status of Saint Catherine's Monastery."
The statement added that the two leaders affirmed their commitment to advancing strategic relations across various fields, in line with their historical ties and the interests of both friendly nations.
Recently, reports have surfaced that Egyptian authorities plan to evacuate the UNESCO world heritage landmark, including its Greek monks, as part of the Egyptian government's Great Transfiguration Project, a claim officials have repeatedly denied.
However, Egyptian officials have repeatedly affirmed that the project focuses on developing the surrounding city, not the monastery itself.
Constructed in 548 AD in South Sinai, the St. Catherine's Monastery is recognised as one of the world's oldest monasteries and holds profound religious and historical significance.
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