Egyptian court ruling on state ownership of St. Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai sparks global concern

According to a number of reports, a ruling from an Egyptian court on Wednesday declared Saint Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai and surrounding areas to be the property of the Egyptian government.

“The court affirmed the right of those affiliated with St. Catherine’s Monastery to utilize the monastery and the archaeological religious sites in the St. Catherine area, with the state retaining ownership of these sites as public property,” Egypt Independent reported.

Reacting to the ruling, Orthodox Christians around the world expressed concern that the court’s decision opened the door for the monastery to be shut down by the Egyptian authorities.

“I refuse to accept, and cannot believe, that Hellenism and Orthodoxy are experiencing yet another historical ‘conquest,’” Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos II said in response to the news.

Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elpidophoros of the United States also issued a statement condemning the ruling.

“The recent judicial actions which threaten to confiscate the monastery’s property and disrupt its spiritual mission are deeply troubling,” he said. “Such measures not only violate religious freedoms but also endanger a site of immense historical and cultural importance. It is imperative that the Egyptian government honors its previous commitments to protect the monastery’s autonomy and heritage.”

Egypt’s Office of the President and Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the outcry, saying that the Egyptian government had no intention of evicting monks from the monastery, and that the ruling had been misinterpreted.

“The Monastery of Saint Catherine, its affiliated archaeological sites, its spiritual value, religious significance, and the monastery’s associated cemeteries aren’t infringed,” the statement promised.

“This judicial ruling represents the first instance in which the legal status of the monastery has been regulated,” it said, adding that it included “a clear affirmation of the preservation of its sacred standing.”

The statement further noted, “The judicial ruling referred to the existence of some remote areas within the natural reserves that are completely distant from the monastery and uninhabited, for which no ownership or possession documents exist. Consequently, these lands are considered state property.”

Despite these promises and clarifications from the Egyptian government, many remain concerned about the ruling’s effect on the future of the monastery.

One article in the National Review argues that “the monastery is no longer truly independent, and its continued existence as a place of Christian worship and monastic life depends on the government’s forbearance. If the Egyptian government moves in a more Islamist direction, the monks could well find themselves on the streets (so to speak).”

The Monastery of Saint Catherine, an Orthodox monastery built in the mid-500s, is the world’s oldest continuously inhabited monastery.

Located at the base of the traditional site of Mount Sinai, the monastery is also the world’s oldest continuously operating library, housing many ancient manuscripts written in Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, Arabic and other languages.

It also houses many icons, including the famous Christ Pantocrator.

The monastery is additionally known for being home to an ancient Rubus sanctus bush, traditionally believed to be a descendant of the burning bush through which God appeared to Moses.

This article originally appeared on All Arab News and is reposted with permission.