Greece Stresses Importance of Preserving Orthodox Heritage at Saint Catherine's Monastery
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has affirmed ongoing coordination with Egyptian authorities to safeguard the sacred character of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai, following a recent ruling issued by the Ismailia Court of Appeals (Tor Sinai Circuit) regarding disputed land surrounding the historic site.
In response to a journalist's question about the developments, Ministry Spokesperson Lana Zochiou stated:
"The governments of Greece and Egypt have been working systematically to reach an agreement that will safeguard the sacred Greek Orthodox character of the area. We are awaiting notification of the Egyptian court's decision, which was issued yesterday."
Zochiou further noted that the Greek Foreign Minister had immediately contacted his Egyptian counterpart, emphasizing that
'There is no room for deviation from the common understanding, as expressed by the leaders of the two countries at the recent High-Level Cooperation Council in Athens.'
The statement comes after an Egyptian court ruling reaffirmed the religious rights of the monastic community at Saint Catherine's Monastery while clarifying the state's ownership of the land as public property.
According to the verdict, the court recognized the right of the Monastery's followers to religious use and presence in the area, including the main monastery and adjacent historical sites. These activities are conducted under the authority of the Bishop of the Monastery, appointed by Presidential Decree No. 306 of 1974, with oversight of the antiquities provided by Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.
The court also upheld the validity of land use agreements between the Saint Catherine Local Council and the Monastery, affirming that these arrangements do not constitute illegal encroachments.
Regarding other disputed areas, the court declared them natural reserves and public state property, which cannot be owned or transferred by prescription, and clarified that no legal contracts were issued concerning these parcels.
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