Greece, Egypt Agree on future of Sinai’s St. Catherine’s Monastery

Greece announced on Thursday that it has reached an agreement with Egypt on the future status of St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai — one of the world’s most sacred Christian sites — resolving a diplomatic dispute that had strained relations between the two countries, according to The Times of Israel.

The monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in the 6th century, stands at the location traditionally believed to be where Moses received the Ten Commandments. It remains an active Greek Orthodox monastery and home to a small community of monks.

Tensions escalated earlier this year after an Egyptian court ruled that the monks must vacate several plots of land and worship facilities, claiming they were illegally sequestered. The ruling sparked concern in Athens over Egypt’s plans to expand tourism infrastructure around the site.

Following months of negotiations, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said both sides have finalized an out-of-court settlement that will be signed by the monastery’s leadership and Egyptian authorities in the coming weeks.

“It guarantees the character of the monastery in perpetuity,” Mitsotakis told the Greek parliament. “Any conversion of the monastery as well as of the other places of worship is prohibited.”

A senior Greek foreign ministry official confirmed that the agreement ensures the site’s religious and cultural integrity while allowing cooperation on heritage preservation and tourism management.

In response to earlier concerns, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed in September Egypt’s “firm commitment to protecting religious places of worship, including St. Catherine’s Monastery,” emphasizing that the site’s “spiritual and religious significance” would remain safeguarded.

St. Catherine’s Monastery is renowned for its ancient Christian manuscripts and historic library — one of the most extensive in the world — which continues to attract pilgrims and scholars alike.