Latest news with #GreatTransfigurationProject
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt committed to preserving St. Catherine's Monastery status: El-Sisi to Greek PM - Foreign Affairs
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. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Independent
26-01-2025
- Business
- Egypt Independent
Egypt promotes its tourism destinations with Spain
Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy met with tour operators in Spain to discuss some of the spiritual tourism destinations available in Egypt, including the Great Transfiguration Project, St. Catherine City, and the Holy Family Path Journey. Fathy's meetings came during his current visit to the Spanish capital Madrid, at the Egyptian pavilion participating in the FITUR 2025 International Tourism Exhibition in order to promote the developmental work being one to elevate Egypt's tourist destinations. Fathy met with the CEO of Avoris, a tour operator in Spain and Latin America, and a number of officials from Viajes Carrefour, another travel agency within the Spanish market, and the accompanying delegation. The minister reviewed the developments witnessed by the tourism industry in Egypt and his ministry's current work strategy. During the meeting with Viajes Carrefour, company officials presented the volume of business and rates of tourist reservations to Egypt during the coming period, nothing a recent increase in demand from Spain to visit Egypt as the company has received between 100 and 150 tourist reservations to Egypt daily from January 15 until now. It was agreed to organize a visit to Egypt in February for a group of travel and tourism companies and agencies located in several cities in Spain, to promote products related to religious tourism and introduce them to the tourism experience there.
