St. Catherine’s Monastery nears settlement to end dispute with Egyptian government

A long-running dispute between the Greek Orthodox Church and the Egyptian government over St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula and its surrounding lands appears to be nearing resolution after more than a year of negotiations.

The development follows an agreement by Archbishop Symeon Papadopoulos, the monastery’s abbot, to sign a contract regulating its legal status. The proposed settlement is expected to be signed in December and to “ensure the continuation of monastic life at the monastery under Egyptian sovereignty” and bring ongoing legal proceedings to an end.

However, some provisions remain unclear, and opposition persists within certain Church circles.

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had received a letter from Papadopoulos confirming his willingness to sign the agreement concerning the monastery and its surrounding lands.

Abdelatty welcomed the move, reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to preserving the monastery and its religious significance as a historic landmark embodying the values of tolerance and coexistence among religions and civilizations.

Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service…