By Venedictos Magdi –
At the start of his remarks following a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo on Wednesday, the Greek Foreign Minister stated:
“Our relationship with Egypt is deep and has acquired a strategic character.
Today, we discussed issues related to Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Mount Sinai and agreed to work in the coming period on reinforcing the monastery’s rights, as well as defining its legal entity and status.
It is the intent of both Egypt and Greece to move forward based on centuries-old traditions and the already existing status quo of this symbolic monastery with its Greek Orthodox religious character.”
Following the broader meetings in Cairo regarding the future of Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Greek diplomatic sources confirmed that the talks took place in a “productive” atmosphere despite differing legal and political perspectives. The sources emphasized that the Greek side insisted on respecting the monastery’s status quo in accordance with international law and global cultural heritage standards, as well as acknowledging its unique spiritual significance.
Greek media outlets (ERT News, ThePressRoom, AlphaTV, ProtoThema, among others) reported that the Egyptian side provided a detailed explanation of the legal complexities surrounding the case. Both sides agreed to continue technical discussions in the coming days to develop a shared understanding of the mechanisms for addressing the issue.
In this context, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian government renewed their commitment to ensuring the continued functioning of the monastery without any obstruction and to safeguarding its Greek Orthodox character, while deferring the issue of property ownership to a later stage.
The Greek delegation, for its part, called for protecting the monastery’s existing status, warning that stripping it of its surrounding lands would make the monastery’s continuity and independence nearly impossible.
It is worth noting that the Greek delegation included officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, culture, and education, and was led by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, who met with his Egyptian counterpart in what were described as positive discussions.
Sources familiar with the talks told ERT News that various ideas and proposals are under discussion, but that the solution would not be purely legal. Rather, it is tied to broader political decisions, explaining the high-level presence of senior officials in this negotiation round.
Diplomatic sources further indicated that no final agreement has yet been reached, especially in light of a complex equation introduced by an Egyptian court ruling that separates the religious aspect of the monastery from its property ownership. This elevates the challenge from a legal issue to a fundamentally political one. It is worth noting that the Greek foreign minister’s visit to Cairo was aimed specifically at finding a political solution that addresses both dimensions.
Wide Domestic Political Reaction in Greece
On the sidelines of the meetings, Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis reiterated that Athens supports the historical rights of Saint Catherine’s Monastery from all angles. He noted that:
“The recent court ruling, which was hastily interpreted, did not directly address the ownership matter. It is essential to sign an agreement ensuring the continued operation of the monastery.”
Similarly, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, Thanasis Kontogeorgis, stated that what matters most to Athens is:
“Renewing the commitment made in the public statements between the two countries’ leaders during their May 7 meeting—particularly regarding the preservation of the monastery’s religious and pilgrimage nature.”
He noted that technical negotiations were still underway and had escalated to the highest diplomatic levels.
Domestic Criticism and Rising Parliamentary Rhetoric
The issue was not confined to diplomatic circles—it triggered intense political debate within Greece. The opposition launched fierce criticism at the government, accusing it of mismanaging the case, while the government maintained its commitment to the May 7 agreement between the Greek Prime Minister and the Egyptian President.
PASOK party leader Nikos Androulakis sharply criticized the government, stating:
“The entire Orthodox world is taking action, and the government spokesperson’s response is that we were too hasty? That is completely unacceptable. If there were no problem, the government would not have sent a full delegation to Cairo for renewed negotiations.”
He also confirmed his intention to visit Egypt on Thursday to meet with the Patriarch of Alexandria, the Archbishop of Sinai, and monastery representatives.
In the same context, SYRIZA party leader Sokratis Famellos sent a letter to the Speaker of Parliament proposing the formation of a multi-party parliamentary mission to visit the monastery. He stressed that the government had clearly failed and called for parliamentary intervention to protect the monastery’s significance for Greek and Orthodox identity.
Meanwhile, Communist Party MP Nikos Karathanasopoulos accused the government of “abandoning” the monastery’s standing for the sake of investment interests in the area. Kyriakos Velopoulos, head of the “Greek Solution” party, addressed the opposition by saying:
“Above all ideologies stands the national duty. No one has the right to question the imperial (golden) decrees that confirm the monastery’s rights.”
Dimitris Natsios, head of the “Victory” party, stated that he did not trust the current Greek foreign minister leading the delegation. Alexandros Kazamias of the “Course of Freedom” party accused the government of unacceptable negligence in handling the monastery issue. Vasilis Stigas, leader of the “Spartans” party, added:
“Greece’s foreign policy is practically non-existent.”
Official circles in Athens reaffirmed the need to uphold the May 7 agreement between the leaders of Greece and Egypt, viewing it as the cornerstone for any future understanding that would protect the monastery’s religious and historical status.
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