EP to discuss security issue of St. Catherine's Monastery on Sinai

EU flag. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency

On June 17, 2025, the issue of the fate of the St. Catherine Monastery on Sinai was included in the agenda of the upcoming plenary session of the European Parliament, reports Orthodox Times.

This occurred at the initiative of the representative of Greece in the European Parliament, Yannis Maniatis, who spoke at the plenary session and succeeded in having the issue included in the agenda of the upcoming summer session.

Maniatis informed the deputies about the crisis situation faced by the world's oldest functioning monastery following the decision of the Egyptian court. According to the ruling, the monastery was stripped of all property rights, including the building itself, and found itself completely dependent on the Egyptian state. The monks, most of whom have only temporary permits to stay in Egypt, are now considered de facto «guests».

It should be noted that in the context of increasing pressure on the Christian presence in the Middle East, international attention to the fate of the St. Catherine Monastery is an important step in the struggle to preserve Orthodox heritage and protect the rights of religious communities.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Archbishop of Sinai arrived in Athens to discuss the fate of the St. Catherine Monastery.

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