A major tourism development featuring a five-star hotel and luxury chalets is reshaping the landscape…
Tag: Saint Catherine’s Monastery
Nikolas Farantouris urged Greece to assert a strong and active role in the Middle East to protect its national interests and Orthodox populations, highlighting the country’s historic ties to the region and the need to counter Turkey’s strategic expansion.
The historic Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, Egypt, is at the heart of a growing ecclesiastical dispute that could strain Greece-Egypt relations. Greece’s General Secretary of Religious Affairs, Giorgos Kalantzis, arrived in Cairo yesterday to mediate between Abbot Archbishop Damian and dissenting monks. Following an emergency meeting at Athens’ Maximos Mansion, fears mount that the monastery could face a schism similar to Mount Athos’ Esfigmenou Monastery. With the monastery closed to pilgrims and Egyptian authorities pressing for a resolution, the next 24 hours are critical for finding a compromise to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site and bilateral ties.
Tensions have escalated at Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, where Archbishop Damianos faced a confrontation with dissenting monks upon his arrival on August 26. Accusing them of attempting to seize control, the Archbishop, supported by loyal monks and Bedouins, expelled the rebels, declaring that the monastery has “returned to legality and normalcy.” The ongoing dispute, rooted in a vote by 15 monks to remove Damianos, has prompted intervention from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, with a delegation set to address the crisis.
In a significant meeting in Athens, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the Hellenic Orthodox character of Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai. Abdelatty announced an upcoming agreement with the monastery, dismissing rumors about its future as “baseless,” while Gerapetritis emphasised the shared goal of maintaining its 15-century status quo. The talks also highlighted the strong Greece-Egypt partnership, addressing regional stability, migration, and maritime delimitation.
Athens, July 31, 2025 – A dramatic power struggle is unfolding at the historic Saint…
Greece and Egypt have entered a renewed phase of high-level diplomatic negotiations following rising tensions over the legal status and property rights of the ancient Greek Orthodox Monastery of Saint Catherine, located in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
Ancient Monastery’s Autonomy and Property Rights Hang in Balance
Egypt’s Presidency and Foreign Ministry have firmly denied any change to Saint Catherine’s Monastery’s status following a May 28, 2025, court ruling.
