Particle.news
Download on the App Store
5 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

Egypt Affirms Spiritual Protections for St Catherine’s Monastery After Asset Ruling

Egypt has denied plans to shut the UNESCO site, affirming that courts have strengthened its spiritual protections

A 2017 picture of the 6th century Saint Catherine's monastery, established at the biblical site of the burning bush in the Sinai
St Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai has operated as a Christian community since the 6th century — but Greek media claims Egypt may turn it into a museum

Overview

  • An Egyptian court on May 28 ruled to transfer surrounding land and assets of St Catherine’s Monastery to state ownership in a long-running Sinai dispute
  • Egypt’s presidency and Foreign Ministry have rejected claims of closure or confiscation and said the ruling reinforces the monastery’s religious status
  • Greece says it will review the full court text before deciding on any diplomatic or legal response
  • Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens condemned the decision as an infringement on fundamental religious freedoms and called for international support
  • The UNESCO World Heritage site houses over 3,300 manuscripts and 16,000 rare books, including the Codex Sinaiticus, raising concerns about the security of its cultural treasures under Sinai development plans