The Holy Monastery of St. Catherine of Sinai is no stranger to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He had previously visited the monastery alongside his father, the late Konstantinos Mitsotakis, who himself had made several visits to this historic symbol of Orthodoxy.

Mitsotakis’ recent visit last Friday, for the enthronement of the new Archbishop Simeon, marked a significant moment. His presence was more than ceremonial—it was deeply meaningful following months of uncertainty stemming from the Ismailia Court of Appeal’s decision. That ruling questioned the monastery’s longstanding presence and denied its ownership of the land it has occupied for centuries. A few weeks ago, the prime minister announced in Parliament that Greece and Egypt had reached an agreement addressing this issue, following consultations between Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelati. The agreement now appears to be nearing finalization, though some details remain to be resolved.

The Role of the Brotherhood

The coordinated efforts of the Greek and Egyptian governments have laid the groundwork to preserve the monastery’s religious character, its rights, and the protection of the monks who serve there indefinitely. The agreed principles will be presented to the Sinaite Brotherhood, who, as Mitsotakis emphasized during his visit, will have the final say. This statement was intentional and reflects both practical and substantive considerations.

According to sources close to “THEMA,” the final agreement will clearly define the terms of the monastery’s relationship with the Egyptian state. Archbishop Simeon will be expected to sign the document on behalf of the monastery. However, for this to happen, he must first be granted Egyptian citizenship, as his predecessor, Archbishop Damianos, was. This requires a presidential decree from President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, which is anticipated to take only a few weeks.

From that point, the more challenging task begins: the monks of Sinai Monastery must reach consensus and present a unified stance on the agreement. While the resignation of Damianos and the elevation of Simeon have eased tensions somewhat, underlying disagreements persist.

Insiders reveal that even the night before Simeon’s election, there were significant tensions. Currently, the monastery’s brotherhood, consisting of about 20 monks, remains divided. A faction loyal to Damianos remains in Athens, unwilling to reconcile. Simeon has a small group supporting him, while two other monks, Niphon and Hesychius, hold influential roles. It is clear that unity is essential for the monastery’s future.

Background

Behind the scenes, discussions over the agreement’s finer points are intense. The agreement aims to safeguard the monastery’s presence, effectively overturning the problematic appellate court ruling. Crucially, it will guarantee the preservation of the monastery’s Christian Orthodox identity, a status long recognized by the Egyptian authorities. This is also mandated by the Treaty of Montreux and was referenced in Egypt’s UNESCO submission for the monastery’s recognition as a historic monument.

Another important matter concerns residence permits for monks. While citizenship for all monks is unlikely, renewable residence permits are expected to be granted. The most sensitive issue remains property rights. Monastic circles have consistently warned that local authorities in Ismailia might attempt to seize monastery assets for commercial or tourism development, threatening the monastery’s vital resources.

Informed sources tell THEMA that the final agreement will likely grant the monastery a stronger legal claim than the current “right of use,” which essentially makes the monastery a tenant on its own land. Legal terms under consideration include “possession” or “usufruct.” However, negotiations are ongoing, and details are critical.

Thanks to the warm personal relationship between Mitsotakis and President Sisi, the effective cooperation between Foreign Ministers Gerapetritis and Abdelati, and the shared commitment to resolving the issue, significant progress has been made. Both sides genuinely want to reach an agreement that will close this sensitive chapter, safeguarding bilateral relations that are especially valuable amid today’s geopolitical uncertainties.