Greece and Egypt have pledged to safeguard the future of the ancient St Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai after a recent court ruling caused uncertainty

The future of one of the world’s oldest and most revered sites of Christian worship, St Catherine’s Monastery, appears to be secured after Greece and Egypt agreed to safeguard its status.

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Foreign ministers from both nations announced the breakthrough late on Wednesday, following an Egyptian court ruling last week that had cast uncertainty over the monastery’s adjacent lands.

Nestled at the foot of Egypt’s Mount Sinai, St Catherine’s Monastery was founded in the 6th century and holds the distinction, according to UNESCO, of being the oldest Christian monastery still functioning for its original purpose.

The area is a designated World Heritage site and is held in high regard by Christians, Muslims, and Jews alike, believed to be the very location where, by Biblical tradition, Moses received the Ten Commandments.

Last week, however, an Egyptian court ruling, sighted by Reuters, ordered Orthodox monks to vacate several plots of land they had utilised for years.

These plots, including vineyards and gardens adjacent to the monastery compound, were deemed illegally sequestered, triggering a diplomatic flurry between Cairo and Athens concerning the site’s status.

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, speaking after a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty in Cairo, affirmed the agreement.

“We agreed in the immediate future to work towards safeguarding the rights of the monastery, as well as its legal status,” Gerapetritis stated.

He added, “Both Egypt and Greece intend to move forward based on the long-standing tradition and the already established status of an emblematic monastery for its Greek Orthodox character of worship.”

Abdelatty, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, confirmed that the ruling preserves the monastery’s profound spiritual value and religious standing. A foreign ministry statement reiterated that the monks would continue to have access to and use of the monastery and its religious and historical sites.

Greece and Egypt share a long history of diplomatic ties, and their cooperation has deepened considerably in recent years. The St Catherine’s complex is sprawling and, by tradition, was built around the burning bush where God is said to have spoken to Moses, as recounted in the Book of Exodus. Its extensive library is renowned worldwide, housing some of the earliest Christian manuscripts.