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Egypt moved to ease tensions Thursday after speculation erupted over a court ruling that some feared could threaten the sacred standing of Saint Catherine’s Monastery, a revered Greek Orthodox site at the foot of Mount Sinai that holds deep religious significance for Orthodox Christians in Greece, Cyprus, and across the region.
In a strongly worded statement, the Egyptian presidency dismissed rumors of a land grab or legal changes to the monastery’s status. Instead, it emphasized that the recent court ruling actually reinforces the monastery’s protected role as a spiritual and cultural treasure.
“The Presidency of the Republic reaffirms its full commitment to preserving the unique and sacred religious status of St. Catherine’s Monastery,” read the statement. “The recent court decision consolidates this status and aligns with what the President stated during his recent visit to Athens.”
Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed the sentiment, warning against misinformation and stressing the importance of its centuries-old friendship with Greece.
The clarification followed growing concern in Greek and Orthodox circles, including in Cyprus, over rumors that the court had stripped the monastery of surrounding land or control over affiliated areas. Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis called his Egyptian counterpart directly to reaffirm both nations' shared commitment to preserving the monastery’s special status.
Cypriot Orthodox leaders and faithful have long regarded Saint Catherine’s as a cornerstone of their spiritual heritage. Pilgrims from Cyprus regularly travel to the remote site, which dates back to the 6th century and is home to priceless religious manuscripts and relics.
According to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, the court ruling does not infringe on the monastery, its cemeteries, or its archaeological and spiritual landmarks. Rather, it clarified land ownership in surrounding areas, some of which fall within state-designated natural reserves, while allowing the monastery’s monks to continue accessing and using nearby religious and historical sites.
Some distant, uninhabited lands without legal documentation were deemed state property, but Egyptian officials stressed these areas are far removed from the monastery itself.
The monastery, believed to be built on the site where Moses saw the burning bush, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a rare symbol of interfaith respect; it includes not only Greek Orthodox structures but also a mosque within its compound.
Before Egypt’s statements, Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said the full ruling was still being studied, but Athens remained clear: there is no room for deviation from the long-standing understanding about the monastery’s status.
For many in Greece and Cyprus, Saint Catherine’s is not just a monument; it’s a living piece of Orthodox identity.
