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Meeting of Archbishop Sinai with the US President's Senior Adviser on Middle East Affairstranslated

July 19, 2026 · 1 min read

A visit of high political and spiritual importance took place yesterday, July 18, 2026, at the Stock of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine of Mount Sinai in Cairo. Massad Boulos, US President Donald Trump's Senior Advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs, as well as Senior Advisor on Africa, during the visit, met with His Eminence Archbishop Sinai, Faran and Raitho Mr. Simeon, Abbot of St. Catherine's Monastery, at a time of growing international interest in the historic and spiritual site of the Monastery.

Mr. Boulos was accompanied by a high-level delegation from the United States of America Embassy in Egypt, which included Chargé d'Affaires Robert Silverman, Political Affairs Officer Judith Visottai and Economic Counselor Chris Kvols. The delegation was welcomed by the Most Reverend Archbishop Mr. Simeon, together with members of the Brotherhood of Sinai and friends of the monastery. Also present was Mr. Antonis Kazamias, Advisor to the Archbishop of Sinai and President of the Hellenic Center in Cairo.

Support of the Monastery by the President of the USA After the official welcome, the delegation…

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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მაია კაპანაძე

It's good that Americans are still celebrating Sinai Monastery. But what exactly did Mr. Πουλος say in his conversation with Archbishop Σymεών? This is not what the article says.

Тимофей Новиков

It is interesting that Masad Boulos came with such a large delegation from the embassy - the ambassador, political and economic advisers. But what exactly they discussed with Archbishop Simeon after the official meeting, the article is really silent. I would like to know whether the Americans promised any practical assistance to the monastery or whether this was just a polite visit.

Анастасия Морозова

It is interesting that Masad Boulos took political and economic advisers with him - this means that we could also talk about financing restoration or protecting property. But they really didn’t write anything about practical help after the official part, which is a pity. Timofey, have you heard of the monastery receiving anything from the Americans before?

Владимир Петров

It is interesting that the delegation was exactly like this - with political and economic advisers. Important people sometimes come to our parish in Nizhny, but after the official part there is usually only tea and talk about nothing. And here, probably, they still discussed something specific about the protection of the monastery, since the economist came. Do you know if Masad Boulos has been to Sinai before?

Роман Зайцев

It’s interesting that you wrote about Nizhny - here in Rostov, too, after such visits it’s often just tea and conversations about the weather. And as for Masad Boulos - in my opinion, this is his first trip to the Cairo compound; before, he was more in the news around Jerusalem. I think they definitely talked about the protection of the monastery, since the economic adviser came, there were tourists there and all that.

Анастасия Воробьёва

It’s interesting that you mentioned Nizhny - in Samara, too, after visits, most often all that’s left is tea and cookies and conversations about the weather. As for Masad Boulos, I also think that this is his first time in the Cairo courtyard. And an economist was probably really called in if it was about financing restoration or protection, but this is always difficult for the monastery.

I have not heard of Americans directly donating money for restoration, but I know that in the 2010s, through USAID, they helped with the protection of sites in Egypt, including Coptic and some ancient Christian sites. But I don’t remember exactly about the Sinai monastery. Maybe Antonis Kazamias told something, he’s often in Cairo?

Дмитрий Семёнов

It’s interesting that you wrote about Nizhny - after such meetings in the church, we often only have tea and talk about fishing. And I definitely don’t know about Masad Boulos; I heard about him for the first time in connection with Sinai. Maybe they really discussed security and money, since the economic adviser came.

Тамара Иванова

In Yaroslavl, after such meetings in church, we also most often have tea and talk about the Volga, and not about politics. But I also first heard about Masada Boulos in this article; it’s interesting that the Americans took the economic adviser with them. Maybe they really agreed on supporting the monastery with money?

Евгения Комарова

It’s interesting that in Rostov, too, after such meetings, only tea and conversations about the weather remain. А про Масада Булоса я не знала, что это его первая поездка именно в каирское подворье, раньше действительно чаще Иерусалим упоминали. Do you think the economic adviser came because of tourists and security, or could there be something else with funding?

Максим Воробьёв

Anastasia accurately noticed about Samara - in Moscow, after such meetings, we also most often end up with an empty table and a discussion about how hot it is outside there. As for financing the restoration, I would not be surprised; Sinai has always had problems with this, especially after all these events in Egypt. Do you often go to churches in Samara or mostly on parish business?