Greece’s PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Thursday that the status of the ancient St. Catherine’s Monastery, located at the base of Egypt’s Mount Sinai, has been secured following an agreement between the Greek and Egyptian governments.
The two countries have finalized an out-of-court deal that will be signed by the leadership of the monastery and the Egyptian authorities, according to Mitsotakis.
“It guarantees the character of the monastery in perpetuity,” Mitsotakis said during a speech in parliament. “Any conversion of the monastery as well as of the other places of worship is prohibited.”
A senior Greek foreign ministry official said that the deal will be signed in the coming weeks, according to Reuters.
Tension between Greece and Egypt over the Sinai monastery
An Egyptian court had ruled earlier this year that the Greek Orthodox monks, who have occupied the land for centuries, must vacate certain facilities because the land, although used by the monastery, is ultimately state-owned public property.
Greece had voiced concern over Egypt’s plans to develop a tourism project in the area, fearing it would harm the character of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery holds immense religious significance as the traditional site where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
Athens states that the agreement specifically prohibits any conversion or alteration to the monastery and its associated places of worship, thereby preserving the site’s identity as one of the world’s oldest centers of Christian monasticism. Egyptian officials had previously affirmed their commitment to protecting the religious site.
Related: The Historic Greek Orthodox St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai
