Egypt and Greece have reached a “preliminary understanding” regarding the status of St. Catherine’s Monastery at Mt. Sinai, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis has announced.
Speaking to the Athens and Macedonian News Agency, Gerapetritis, who attended the consecration of the new Sinai Monastery Archbishop Simeon at the Jerusalem Patriarchate alongside Egyptian Ambassador to Palestine Ihab Soliman, expressed optimism about a swift resolution.
“We are already at a preliminary common understanding,” Mr. Gerapetritis said, adding that Greece will continue to support the Sinaitic Brotherhood, which holds the final authority over the monastery.
The dispute, which has lasted for centuries, centers on the ownership of the land where the monastery—the oldest continuously operating institution of its kind—is located.
There were past concerns that the Egyptian government might convert the site into a secular tourist attraction, undermining the monks’ presence.
Mr. Gerapetritis hopes for a final agreement soon that will protect the monastery’s cultural heritage and serve the best interests of all parties involved.
This development comes amid ongoing diplomatic cooperation between Greece and Egypt, aiming to preserve shared historical and religious landmarks.