Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, head of the Greek delegation in Egypt, met today in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart Badre Abdelati And they discussed the issues concerning the Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai.

Mr. Caracetite appeared satisfied after the meeting: “It was agreed to work the two sides in the direction of securing the rights of the monastery, as well as its legal form and personality.” said the Greek Foreign Minister.

For its part, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, in its announcement, states that there is no change in the ownership status that applies to the Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai, except in territories around the monastery and emphasizes the president’s commitment. Abdel Fatah al -Sisi to preserve the sacred religious character of the monastery and to protect it from all forms of violation.

In detail the announcement of the Egyptian Foreign Minister:

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration, Dr. Badr Abdelati, he received on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, by the Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, in a meeting on how to strengthen the distinguished bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.

Minister Abdelati praised the historical ties between Egypt and Greece and their distinguished political, economic and cultural relations, which culminated last month with the upgrading of relationships to a strategic partnership during the first meeting of the High level of Cooperation Council. Kyriakou Mitsotakis. He confirmed Egypt’s desire to continue promoting strategic relations between the two countries to wider horizons in various areas.

Foreign Minister Abdelati also briefed his Greek counterpart on a court ruling on May 28th on the territories surrounding the Monastery of St. Catherine. He emphasized the inviolable nature of the monastery of St. Catherine and the archaeological sites linked to it, its spiritual value and its religious regime, noting that the court ruling preserves the high spiritual value and religious prestige of the monastery.

The Foreign Minister said the decision confirms the continuation of the monastery’s monks’ license to benefit from it and the religious and archaeological areas of the area. He also stressed that, unlike the misconduct of the media, the decision explicitly confirms the religious, spiritual and monastic guardianship of the monastery and the surrounding areas. This is an important historical step that confirms the sacredness and religious regime of the monastery, and allows it to continue to exercise its religious and spiritual functions without any change in the existing regime.

Minister Abdelati underlined the constant confirmation of President Abdel Fatah al -Sisi – more recently during his visit to Athens on May 7 – for Egypt’s full commitment to maintain the sacred religious character of the monastery and to protect it. He emphasized that this reflects Egypt’s unmistakable respect for the religious and sacred character of the monastery, according to the long -term values ​​of tolerance and peaceful coexistence of religions in the history of the country.

Gerapetritis: We have agreed to work to guarantee monastery rights

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritisafter the end of his meeting with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, he told ERT:

Our relationship with Egypt is deep and has developed strategic characteristics.

We discussed today with the Egyptian Foreign Minister the issues related to the Monastery of St. Catherine of Mount Sinai. We have agreed immediately to work in the direction of securing the rights of the monastery, as well as its legal form and personality.

The intention of Egypt and Greece is to proceed on the basis of the centuries -long tradition and the already designed status of an emblematic monastery for its Greek -Orthodox worship.