Saint Catherine’s Monastery Faces Closure and Eviction in Egypt
Historic Christian site to be converted into museum; monks plan international protest
CAIRO—In a move drawing international condemnation, Egyptian authorities have ordered the closure of Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai—the world’s oldest continuously operating Christian monastery—and plan to convert it into a state-run museum. The decision, based on a court ruling, includes the eviction of the resident monastic community and confiscation of all monastic property.
Founded by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, Saint Catherine’s has withstood centuries of upheaval. The current action, taken in peacetime, has shocked religious and political leaders across the Orthodox world and beyond.
Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens issued a strong denunciation, calling the decision a “historical fall” for both Hellenism and Orthodoxy. He described the move as a violation of religious freedom and a betrayal of promises recently made by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Archbishop appealed for urgent action from international authorities, insisting the monastery must not be allowed to disappear “under the guise of legal proceedings.”
Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis contacted his Egyptian counterpart, reiterating that recent agreements to preserve the monastery’s religious character must be upheld. The Greek Foreign Ministry emphasized there is no room for deviation from the commitments made during recent diplomatic meetings in Athens.
The monks of Saint Catherine’s are launching a global mobilization campaign, calling on Christian churches and other faith groups to protest the decision. The monastery, known for its unparalleled spiritual and cultural heritage, is considered a vital symbol of Orthodox Christianity.
The fate of Saint Catherine’s now hangs in the balance, as international pressure mounts and the faithful rally to defend one of Christianity’s most sacred sites.
Full Statement by Archbishop Ieronymos
“In light of yesterday’s scandalous ruling by the Egyptian judiciary—an act of violent infringement upon human and religious rights—Saint Catherine’s Monastery of Mount Sinai, the world’s oldest Orthodox Christian monument, is entering a great trial reminiscent of darker times.
Despite the recent assurances by President Sisi to the Greek Prime Minister, the Egyptian government has decided to nullify all sense of justice and, essentially, erase the very existence of the monastery, eliminating its liturgical, spiritual, and cultural mission.
Its property is being seized, and this spiritual lighthouse of Orthodoxy and Hellenism now faces a struggle for actual survival.
With profound sadness and justifiable indignation, I call on every Greek and international authority to grasp the gravity of this matter and act immediately to safeguard the fundamental religious freedoms of Saint Catherine’s Monastery.
I categorically condemn any attempt to alter the status that has prevailed in the region for 15 centuries and appeal to the Greek government and Prime Minister Mitsotakis to act decisively to restore legal order and prevent the abolition of the monastery.
I express my heartfelt solidarity with the monastic brotherhood and its abbot, Archbishop Damianos of Sinai and Raithu, as well as with the Greek brothers selflessly serving in the broader Sinai region.
Finally, I cannot and do not want to believe that today Hellenism and Orthodoxy are facing another historical ‘fall.’ This must not be allowed to happen.”
