In a bid to prevent changes that could impact the character and legal status of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai—an important cultural heritage site and a vital center of Christian religious practice—Athens is reaching out to Cairo for fresh discussions. The aim is to uphold the mutual understanding established during negotiations between the leaders of both nations and their working groups for an out-of-court settlement.
Following talks between Prime Minister Mitsotakis and President Sisi, it was agreed that discussions would commence between the two nations. While an expert team was initially scheduled to visit Cairo today, it has now been announced that Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis will lead the mission on Wednesday, meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
The Egyptian administration seems to prefer political dialogue over purely technical discussions, which would inherently revisit the previously negotiated settlement. Irrespective of the approach, a high-level political endorsement will be essential.
Greece is focused on ensuring the preservation of the pilgrimage and Greek Orthodox identity of the Monastery, seeking an institutional resolution. Both leaders concurred that a solution is grounded in their documented mutual understanding and the terms discussed during the Egyptian President’s visit to Athens on May 7.
Recent revelations have indicated that Egypt, within the framework of UNESCO, has long recognized the Monastery as the legitimate owner of its grounds and buildings. This complicates Egypt’s position in relation to both the Monastery and the international community, while offering Greece a significant argument.
After Athens became aware of an unexpected ruling from the Ismailia Court of Appeal, which threatens the Monastery’s property rights, Cairo provided reassuring—though not entirely clear—messages about the issue. The Egyptian presidency asserted that the court decisions “reinforce” its commitments to uphold the Monastery’s religious character.
However, the critical question remains whether Cairo is genuinely open to productive discussions, given its allowance of a legal precedent that contradicts prior political agreements intended to finalize an out-of-court settlement. That agreement specifically mandated a halt to legal actions and acknowledged the Monastery’s longstanding property rights, along with the authority of Egypt’s Antiquities Department, which would have settled any ownership disputes permanently.
A concerning aspect of the court ruling reveals a notion akin to an “Arab bazaar” mentality: stakeholders are meant to accept that only peripheral properties are being confiscated, while the ownership of the Monastery and its immediate structures is left in a legal ‘grey area.’ Essentially, the court allows monks to continue their religious activities without formally recognizing property rights, reducing their status to mere rights of use for religious purposes.
While the court rejected the demand for the monks’ immediate eviction and sought financial compensation for their supposed ‘illegal’ occupancy, it dismissed the Monastery’s appeal for legal acknowledgment of ownership over the buildings.
Statements from the Egyptian Presidency and Foreign Ministry that the Monastery’s “religious character” will remain intact do not provide much reassurance. No proposal exists to convert the sacred site into a tourism project; the core issue revolves around Egypt’s acknowledgment of the Monastery’s ownership rights.
Athens aims to explore all pathways for understanding with Cairo but must assert that such actions not only pose a challenge to Greece but also damage Egypt’s standing in the international community. The ongoing persecution of a millennia-old Christian presence linked to a tourism redevelopment initiative undermines credibility.
Egypt’s management of this situation has raised significant concerns for Athens, casting doubt on Egypt as a dependable partner in shared interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. While seeking balance, Athens cannot accept an outcome that confirms the current legal status without safeguarding its political relationship—one that could no longer be equitable.
The Egyptian government has set its sights on tourism redevelopment in the Sinai region as a means of economic recovery. Aiming for grandiose projects, Egypt seeks to solidify its control over Sinai, historically contentious with Israel, and more recently plagued by Islamic extremism. The strict regulations governing the Saint Catherine Monastery present a substantial impediment to these ambitions.
The plan, titled “The Great Transformation,” envisions turning Sinai into a destination for entertainment, religious, and luxury tourism. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has recently visited the area to expedite construction efforts, allowing President Sisi—who is personally invested in the project—to inaugurate developments soon.
The ambitious initiative involves major infrastructure upgrades, including the reuse of groundwater, flood protection, and improved road connectivity to tourist sites like Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh. This includes a new visitor center, a multi-functional Peace Plaza, and several hospitality projects designed to accommodate visitors.
Additionally, plans are underway for a new residential development, upgrades to local Bedouin housing, and a spiritual retreat in the mountains aimed at wellness and climbing tourism. Enhanced visitor services, such as golf carts, will facilitate access to one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, as the government commits to overcoming obstacles in bringing these projects to fruition.
