Greece and Egypt discuss the status of St Catherine's Monastery on Sinai

St. Catherine's Monastery. Photo: tripsinegypt

On June 4, 2025, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Georgios Gerapetritis, met in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty. The main topic of discussion was the Saint Catherine Monasyery on Mount Sinai, one of the oldest and most significant Orthodox monasteries, reports Orthodoxia News Agency.

The Greek Foreign Minister emphasized the need to protect the religious and spiritual character of the monastery. Georgios Gerapetritis stated: "The intention of Egypt and Greece is to move forward based on the centuries-old tradition and the already established status of an emblematic Monastery for its Greek Orthodox worship character."

Minister Abdelatty, in turn, stated that the recent Egyptian court decision regarding the lands around the monastery does not violate its rights. It is intended to emphasize the preservation of the monks' historical and spiritual rights. 

He also reminded that the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, assured Greece of full support for the monastery and respect for its sacred character. The Egyptian side emphasizes the importance of peace, tolerance, and coexistence of religions.

Greece and Egypt stated that they will continue to cooperate to protect the unique spiritual significance of the Monastery of Saint Catherine.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Egyptian authorities intend to close the Saint Catherine Monastery on Sinai.

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