Sinai Monastery: Gerapetritis announces agreement with the Egyptian state
Greece’s Foreign Ministry describes safeguards for the monastery’s religious character and the monks’ residence. The statement does not include the full agreement.
An agreement between Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai and the Egyptian state was announced by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis on 24 October 2026. His official statement adds Greek government confirmation to public discussion of a settlement concerning the monastery’s status.
What Greece’s Foreign Ministry says
According to the minister, the agreement safeguards the religious character of the monastery and its ecclesiastical properties indefinitely. He also links its continuity to provisions for long-term residence permits for the monks. This is the Greek government’s description of the safeguards, rather than an independent examination of every legal term.
Gerapetritis credits Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s intervention and cooperation with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. He also reports support from the Patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria and Jerusalem and the Churches of Cyprus and Greece.
Details requiring examination of the agreement
The announcement examined does not include the full signed text, annexes or a detailed implementation timetable. It therefore does not establish all ownership terms, the status of any outstanding court proceedings or when each residence permit is issued. Reaching an agreement is distinct from completing all measures needed to implement it.
English translation of the Greek edition · Read in Greek