U.S. Official Meets Abp. Symeon Over Preservation of Sinai Monastery

CAIRO — Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump for Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs and Senior Advisor for Africa, visited the Cairo dependency of the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai on July 18, meeting with Abp. Symeon of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho, and members of the Sinaitic Brotherhood.

The U.S. delegation, which included senior officials from the U.S. Embassy in Egypt, was welcomed by Abp. Symeon and representatives of the historic monastery. The visitors toured the metochion and the Church of St. Catherine, where they joined the monastic community in prayer and honored the sacred site, which has remained an important center of Orthodox Christian life for more than 15 centuries.

During discussions following the visit, Boulos highlighted the monastery’s historical, spiritual, and cultural significance, describing it as one of Christianity’s oldest and most sacred sites. He said the monastery represents a shared Abrahamic heritage and praised Egypt’s efforts to preserve its religious legacy. Boulos also expressed his respect for the monastery’s historic status quo and said he would continue supporting efforts to protect its unique character.

Abp. Symeon invited Boulos to visit the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai, an invitation the U.S. official said he hoped to accept. The meeting came as the monastery has received increased international attention regarding its future preservation and role as a global religious heritage site.

Previously, the UOJ reported that St. Catherine’s Monastery awaited a decree as tourism pressures grew.