Egyptian Foreign Office: No one has the right to touch the Sinai Monastery

St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai. Photo: rossyanka

“No one has the right to infringe upon the Sinai monastic community,” declared Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during an official visit to Athens on August 6, 2025.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis, the Egyptian minister referred to St. Catherine’s Monastery on Sinai as a sacred site that must remain untouchable.

“The monastery’s status is sacred. There is absolutely no possibility that anyone could interfere with it. It is out of the question,” said Abdelatty.

He also dismissed “groundless rumors” about a possible change in the monastery’s legal status, stating that “the monastery enjoys asylum rights and sanctity, which Egypt recognizes and respects.”

According to the minister, an official agreement between the Egyptian state and the monastery is expected to be signed soon. The signing will take place in Cairo in the presence of high-ranking representatives from Greece, though the content of the document has not yet been made public.

Abdelatty emphasized that he came to Athens “in the name of love,” to strengthen cooperation and reaffirm the historic ties between the two nations.

He described the Sinai monastery as a “spiritual heritage site that serves as a bridge for dialogue and mutual understanding,” adding that Egypt has always been and remains “a religious center of tolerance.”

The Greek Foreign Minister, in turn, confirmed that a substantive discussion had taken place regarding the legal status of the monastery, stressing that Greece places great importance on preserving the historical and spiritual significance of the Sinai monastery.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that according to the abbot of St. Catherine’s Monastery, the situation at the monastery is critical.

Read also