Greece Reaffirms Support for Saint Catherine Monastery in Sinai
The Greek Defense Minister met with Archbishop Damianos of Sinai at Saint Catherine’s metochion in Athens, affirming Greece’s steadfast support for the historic monastery.
ATHENS — Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias reaffirmed Greece’s unwavering support for the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai during a meeting held on Thursday, July 18, 2025, in Athens. The meeting took place at the metochion (dependency) of the Monastery in Athens and was attended by Archbishop Damianos of Sinai, who also serves as abbot of the historic monastery.
In a post on platform X, Dendias stated: “I met with Archbishop Damianos of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho, and Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai, accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Lt. Gen. G. Kostidis, at the Metochion of the Monastery in Athens. I expressed our full and unwavering support for the historic Monastery of Sinai.”
The Monastery of Saint Catherine, one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds deep historical and spiritual significance for Orthodoxy and for global cultural heritage.
Greece has long maintained close ties with the monastery, recognizing its importance in preserving religious traditions and Byzantine legacy in the Middle East.
