A hard diplomatic thriller is ongoing between Athens and Cairo for the future of the historic Christian Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai.
The information that the Egyptian justice has issued a decision to explode the 20 monks and the abbot and the conversion of the monastery to Mount Sinai into a museum was followed by a diplomatic “fever” and the angry announcement by Archbishop Hieronymus who said that he was still in the
In his latest statements, the Archbishop said: “From what I am informed there is a development on the subject. We pray that developments in the issue of Sinai Monastery are positive. “
“They become the fathers of the single tenants, the lawmakers in their home. How would this look like. The monastery loses the property of even the building it holds since the 5th century, loses 70 buildings, gardens that help maintain and nutrition of perpetrators and monuments of cultural heritage, “said Archimandrite Porphyrios, a spokesman for the Holy Monastery of Sinai.
The announcement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate followed today, in the same climate of rage.
“The first ones were seized by the Sin Monastery. As a matter of respect today and Egypt, as a civilized and legitimate country, respecting religious freedom and human rights in general. ” Reportedly, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who is in Rome for the Throne of Peter and Paul is expected to raise the issue with Pope Leo -fourth.
Communication between the Greek Foreign Minister and his counterpart is ongoing with the Greek government keeping silent fish, waiting to take the multi -page court ruling of the Ismail Court of Appeal. Shortly before midnight, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry and the Egyptian Presidency issued announcements, denouncing that the monks were being expelled.
“The Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt reiterates its full commitment to the maintenance of the unique and sacred religious regime of the Monastery of St. Catherine and to prevent its violation.”
Mitsotaki – al -Sisi telephone communication
Telephone contact with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al -Sisi had Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday afternoon (30/5/25)in the wake of the case for the Monastery of St. Catherine of Mount Sinai.
Reportedly, developments in the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai were discussed during the communication, following the recent decision of Egyptian justice. Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized the importance of preserving the pilgrimage and Greek -Orthodox character of the monastery and the resolution of the issue in an institutional way.
The two leaders agreed that on Monday, June 2, a Greek delegation would go to Egypt for further elaboration of the agreement with the aim of rapidly completing it. Reportedly, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but not ministers, will participate.
15 centuries
The Holy Monastery of St. Catherine, the oldest Christian monastery in the world is a World Heritage Site. Built on the outskirts of Mount Sinai in Egypt, he survived by successive historical adventures. Today, as it is reported, the Egyptian authorities are seeking to exploit the Sinai Peninsula. With hotel complexes, shops overlooking Mount Sinai.
“At the moment the decision that came out only speaks of 46 properties recognizing only the possession of the right to use religious duties, the remaining 25 must be delivered immediately to the Egyptian State,” said Christos Kombiliris, a legal adviser to the monastery.
Rivalry
Maria Syrengela accused those who were in a hurry to condemn the government of a diplomatic deficit. “But to talk about a full -sensitivity issue, and keeping in mind that this is something that has been there for many years and will continue to be condemned.”
Opposition executives are talking about the government’s slavery in handling such a sensitive issue.
“The alertness shown by all parties shows that all of us are concerned, I do not want to reduce the mood of the government,” said Thanassis Glavina, PASOK.
“The Egyptian Government and personally President Sisi must show in practice that religious freedom is respected and this is not only the right to use the historical sites of the Sinai Monastery but also the monastery’s assets as a whole, without which the monastery could not be able to do so,” Sinai.
“Greek-Egyptian relations are very important. We have struggled for years to establish them and specialize them, and I do not think one will accept that the Sinai Monastery can cause the disruption of these relationships. On the contrary, good relations should also lead to a good practical result, “said Evangelos Venizelos, while questioning whether” the Greek government was surprised by circles of the Muslim Brotherhood … “he stressed that” these are trials that have been conducted for many years. So we were waiting for the court ruling. But beyond the judiciary there is also the legislative power that can solve a number of problems. “
“The operational overthrow of the Sinai Monastery regime proves the sloppiness with which the Mitsotakis government handles the particularly sensitive ecclesiastical issues,” said George Karameros, a SYRIZA spokesman.
The historic Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai today received only visitors for a few hours, while the monks remain in their cells for prayer.