The ownership of Saint Catherine Monastery on Mount Sinai has been disputed by the Eqyptian court. Credit: Joonas Plaan/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0The recent Egyptian court decision on the status of the Greek Orthodox Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai is causing Greece to respond by sending a delegation to Cairo on Monday.
According to a decision of an Egyptian court, the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai, as well as the surrounding area and all its properties in Egypt are passing into the hands of the Egyptian State.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the threat to the monastery is a rumor. A spokesperson stated that, “The Monastery of Saint Catherine and its historic sites remain completely unaffected. Its religious and archaeological significance, along with its cemetery, remain fully intact.”
According to the Egyptian official, while contracts have been signed for certain nearby areas to be designated as natural reserves, the court ruled that the monks will maintain their right to access and make use of these religious and archaeological sites, thereby keeping their spiritual significance intact.
However, the statement does not clarify the status of the monastery. It may continue its present function, but it will not maintain its autonomous status since it will be considered property of the Egyptian State from here on out.
Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lana Zohiou said that “the governments of Greece and Egypt have been working systematically lately for an agreement that will ensure the sacred Greek Orthodox character of the area. We are awaiting the dispatch of the decision of the Egyptian court that was issued yesterday.”
“The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs immediately contacted the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and made it clear that there is no room for deviating from the common understanding of the two sides, which was expressed by the leaders of the two countries in the context of the recent Supreme Cooperation Council in Athens,” Zohiou explained.
Ecumenical Patriarch calls on Egypt to respect monastery status
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew called on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to maintain the ownership status of the Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai.
In the statement, Bartholomew calls the May 28 Egyptian court decision a “painful surprise,” expressing his concern over the fate of the historic monastery and its religious significance.
The issue is over the lack of ownership documents and has raised concerns that the religious site might be confiscated and the monks evicted.
The Ecumenical Patriarch has requested that the Egyptian leader respect the centuries-long religious tradition of the site and the agreed upon terms of its status.
Specifically, the statement reads:
“The Ecumenical Patriarchate appeals to the Egyptian Government, especially in light of the recent statements made by the country’s President, His Excellency Mr. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, to find an appropriate way to preserve the ownership status of the Holy Monastery—an arrangement that has been respected and privileged for centuries, even under Islam—and to implement the recent agreement reached with the Monastery.”
UNESCO has characterized Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai as a World Heritage Site and one of the most important Christian landmarks in the world. It was built between between 548 and 565 CE and is the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery.
The monastery library has a long list of priceless ancient Christian manuscripts and artifacts. Its collection is among the largest in the world, second only to the Vatican Library, and it contains Greek, Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew, Georgian, Syriac, and Udi texts of immeasurable value. Furthermore, there is evidence that manuscripts were produced in the Sinai as early as the 7th century. In recent years, many of the manuscripts have even been digitized.
No agreement on property rights
The issue of a comprehensive agreement regarding property rights of the Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai has been discussed but has not been signed.
According to Greek media reports, in late December, Major General Dr. Khaled Moubarak Hussein Bakri, Governor of South Sinai, and Archbishop Damianos, the monastery’s legal representative under Presidential Decree 306 of 1974 had extensive negotiations over the monastery’s property rights. However, the two sides did not sign a comprehensive agreement, leaving the issue open.
The proposed settlement addressed lawsuits filed since 2015 by the South Sinai Governorate, challenging the monastery’s ownership of 71 disputed plots, as per the report. An Egyptian Ministry of Justice five-member committee detailed boundaries and characteristics of the contested plots of land. The cases were postponed until the unfavorable court decision was issued on Wednesday.
The unsigned agreement explicitly recognized the monastery’s ownership rights, stating that the parties agree that, according to the registration of Saint Catherine’s Monastery on the World Heritage List, the monastery and its buildings, plots, and churches constitute property of the monastery belonging to the Greek Orthodox Doctrine. The Egyptian State recognized the area’s historical significance and cultural heritage dating to the 4th century.
According to the draft terms, the monastery would remain autonomous in managing its internal, administrative, and religious affairs without external interference. The abbot would oversee all activities while cooperating with Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities in terms of building conservation.
There was also special attention given to the environmental heritage of the monastery with provisions protecting ancient trees. The seventh article of the agreement stated that the parties fully agree on their commitment to reconciliation, waiver, and termination of the ongoing legal dispute between the South Sinai Governorate and the monastery.
Nonetheless, since the agreement document was not signed, the Egyptian court issued the unfavorable decision.
πηγή:greekreporter.com