Greece and Egypt secure the future of Saint Catherine

20-10-25

Greece and Egypt have reached an understanding to protect the Monastery of Saint Catherine at the foot of Mount Sinai. The agreement preserves its religious character and dispels uncertainty created by a recent administrative ruling in Egypt.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis explained that the solution will be an out-of-court settlement between the Egyptian authorities and the monastic community. The goal is to ensure the complex retains its spiritual use indefinitely. There will be no conversion of the place of worship nor any alteration of its historic status.

The ruling that raised alarms reaffirmed state ownership of the land and ordered the eviction of adjacent areas deemed occupied without legal basis. That interpretation worried Athens and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem for its potential impact on religious life and on cultural and pilgrimage tourism.

Political dialogue has been intense. Foreign ministers held meetings in Cairo to clarify the ruling’s real scope. Egypt reiterated that the community’s access and spiritual function were not at risk. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had already conveyed to Mitsotakis his willingness to preserve the “unique religious status” of Saint Catherine.

The understanding comes amid growing cooperation between the two countries. Greece and Egypt have strengthened ties in energy, security, and Mediterranean connectivity. Now that alignment extends to heritage and devotional matters.

For the monastic community, the outcome brings relief and certainty. The continuity of worship is backed by a clear legal framework. The architectural complex and its valuable library of ancient manuscripts can plan conservation, security, and visitor reception under predictable rules.

For Egypt, the agreement confirms that regulatory modernization can coexist with respect for sacred sites. Public ownership of the land does not mean limiting religious use; rather, it clarifies responsibilities and administrative procedures.

Tourism also stands to benefit. Rumors of a closure or “museumification” of the monastery are reduced. Tour operators, universities, and cultural institutions gain visibility into protocols for visits, research, and loans. The peak pilgrimage season will carry a single message: the monastery remains open and protected.

The challenge now is operational. The text must be translated into concrete measures for signage, conservation, and crowd management, as well as mechanisms for mediation with neighboring communities. The priority is to preserve the calm achieved at the negotiating table.

Saint Catherine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of historic coexistence for Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Its management requires balance between civil jurisdiction, historical rights, and religious sensitivity. The case shows that sacred places are also spaces for patient diplomacy and sound administration.

When diplomacy and technical stewardship advance together, faith, culture, and local development all gain. That is the spirit of the agreement that today secures the future of the world’s oldest continuously operating monastery.

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