A climate of anxiety pervades the monastic community of Saint Catherine’s Monastery according to sources, as more than seven months have passed since the court decision and mutual promises from the Greek and Egyptian governments, yet the case remains stuck at square one. The Egyptian court ruling calls for changing the ownership status of Saint Catherine’s Monastery and confiscating their property to convert it into a museum. Specifically, it was judicially decided to transfer ownership to the Egyptian state, with the monks being characterized as guests.
Concerns for Saint Catherine’s Monastery
Diplomatic sources contacted by parapolitika.gr confirm that “there is nothing new” despite assurances that “an agreement is imminent.” Legal sources handling the case in absolute cooperation with the new Archbishop of Sinai, Symeon, express their fear and concern to parapolitika.gr about the fate of the Sinaitic community and the monastery. Two months after the enthronement ceremony of the new Archbishop Symeon – whose election was made to facilitate the matter – and despite assurances provided by the Egyptian government to Athens for the immediate issuance of the Presidential Decree confirming his election, this has not yet happened. Nor have permanent residence permits been issued for the monks of the Sinaitic community at the monastery.
The result of all this is their confinement to the monastery and the inability for any legal representation of the monastery before the Egyptian state, in courts, public services, and wherever else necessary. As people close to the monastery tell parapolitika.gr: “We find ourselves in a paradox. On one hand, they attack to take the monastery’s property, and on the other hand, they don’t allow legal representation since they don’t issue the Presidential Decree, based on which Saint Catherine’s Monastery would be represented in Egyptian courts. The lawyer in Egypt cannot appear without a certified notarial document.”
Saint Catherine’s Monastery: Egypt’s government plans to implement tourism development schemes for the area surrounding the monastery
According to well-informed sources, the Egyptian government intends to implement its plans for tourism development of the area surrounding Saint Catherine’s Monastery. Strong evidence is the decision by the Sinai region’s governor, who filed an appeal against the court decision requesting that even the religious spaces be awarded to the Egyptian state.
After fifteen centuries of monastery history and having escaped the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood, Saint Catherine’s Monastery appears to be going through its toughest trial. In Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s Egypt, tourism appears to be a key component of his policy. The development of the area into one of the emerging tourist destinations, where large hotel units are planned, includes in its schemes the promotion of more than 30,000 visitors to the Greek Orthodox pilgrimage site, with its 2,000 icons from the 4th and 5th centuries, relics of saints, and manuscripts of invaluable historical and religious value.
The monastic community, holding four international treaties (including UNESCO and UN treaties), turns to the Greek state for help. According to the same sources, an out-of-court agreement is nowhere on the horizon, while resolution through judicial means is referred to a long-term timeline. As the same sources maintain to parapolitika.gr, even the way of handling the issue is wrong. As they claim, “there is very great confusion.” “There is ownership, the ownership is historical, it has existed for 1,600 years with a thousand legal titles from firmans, from documents of the Prophet Muhammad, from international treaties. Regarding the religious character of the pilgrimage site, it was never disputed, not even by the contested court decision, which clearly states that there was no issue regarding the religious character. From now on, we go to the Higher Court,” the same sources state.
Close associates of Archbishop Symeon, although they consider that an out-of-court decision would be the appropriate solution since it would shorten the process, believe it conceals dangers if part of such an agreement is the Greek government and not the monastery. As they characteristically point out: “If tomorrow – and it’s very likely – the Muslim Brotherhood comes to power in Egypt, be sure that it will not respect such an agreement that is political.” It’s worth noting that the Sinaitic community’s pursuit is for an out-of-court agreement based on which Egypt will recognize and respect the ownership of Saint Catherine’s Monastery by the Sinaitic community, as it has existed for 1,600 years.
