Egypt and Greece Reach Landmark Agreement Resolving St. Catherine’s Monastery Land Dispute

Egypt has expressed its satisfaction following the Archbishop of St. Catherine’s Monastery’s agreement to sign a deal that will formalize the legal standing of the monastery and its surrounding lands in the Sinai Peninsula. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty received confirmation from Archbishop Symeon via letter, indicating his consent to finalize the contract, as reported by RT. A formal signing ceremony is scheduled for a date to be mutually agreed upon by both parties.

This resolution comes after a protracted legal battle spanning several years over the status of the monastery and its adjacent territories. Tensions escalated in May 2025 when a ruling from the Ismailia Court of Appeals cast doubt on the monastery’s claims to certain lands and facilities crucial for its monastic operations.

Lawsuit dating over a decade

The origins of the case trace back to a lawsuit initiated by Egyptian government authorities in 2015, involving numerous land plots. The core of the dispute centered on the assertion of state ownership versus the monastery’s established rights of possession and usage. The court's decision upheld the state's ownership of the contested land, differentiating between areas designated for religious and archaeological purposes and other land types. This outcome sparked apprehension within Greek ecclesiastical circles regarding the monastery’s future and the rights afforded to its monks.

The dispute also affected diplomatic ties between Egypt and Greece, prompting Athens to pursue a resolution that would safeguard the monastery’s distinct Greek Orthodox character and its ongoing religious significance. Cairo, meanwhile, has maintained that the ruling does not diminish the monastery’s spiritual and historical importance, assuring that the monks will continue to conduct religious services at the site.

Agreement drafted

Ongoing dialogue between the involved parties led to the drafting of an agreement designed to clarify the legal status of the monastery and its associated lands. This framework aims to implement the judicial ruling while ensuring the uninterrupted continuation of monastic life and respecting the sovereignty of the Egyptian state. The Church of Greece, along with various other Orthodox leaders and churches, provided support for the efforts to reach this accord.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s statement underscored the nation’s profound respect for the monastery, which is over 1,600 years old. It reiterated Egypt's commitment to preserving its religious standing and heritage, recognizing it as a testament to tolerance and coexistence across religions and civilizations. The forthcoming signing of this agreement is expected to bring closure to the legal proceedings and alleviate any potential strain on Egyptian-Greek relations, all while upholding the monastery’s religious and historical significance in full adherence to Egyptian law and national sovereignty.