Egypt and Greece pledge to protect St Catherine’s Monastery

Egypt and Greece have pledged to protect one of Christianity’s most ancient places of worship, their foreign ministers announced on June 4, following an Egyptian court decision that recently raised concerns about the site’s future, according to Middle East Monitor on June 5th.

St Catherine’s Monastery, located at the base of Mount Sinai in Egypt, dates back to the 6th century. It remains the oldest Christian monastery still serving its original religious purpose, according to UNESCO, which has designated the site a World Heritage landmark.

St Catherine’s Monastery holds deep significance for Christians, Muslims, and Jews alike, as it is traditionally believed to be located where Moses received the Ten Commandments, according to Biblical accounts.

However, tensions arose last week after an Egyptian court ordered Orthodox monks to vacate several parcels of land they have long tended—including vineyards and gardens surrounding the monastery—on the grounds that the land had been illegally sequestered. Reuters, which reviewed the court order, reported that the ruling triggered a wave of diplomatic exchanges between Cairo and Athens over the monastery’s status and future.

“We agreed in the immediate future to work towards safeguarding the rights of the monastery, as well as its legal status,” said Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, following a meeting in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

He added that “both Egypt and Greece intend to move forward based on the long-standing tradition and the already established status of an emblematic monastery for its Greek Orthodox character of worship.”

Abdelatty said the court ruling safeguards the monastery’s profound spiritual value and religious standing, and affirmed that the monks would retain access to and use of the monastery and its religious and historical grounds, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

St Catherine’s is a vast monastic complex, traditionally believed to have been built around the site of the burning bush, where God is said to have spoken to Moses in the Book of Exodus. Its library ranks among the most significant in the world, housing some of the earliest known Christian manuscripts.

Middle East Monitor/ Reuters