EGYPT DENIES REPORTS ON SAINT KATHERINE'S CLOSURE (UPDATES)

Yesterday, already a sad day marking the commemoration of the Fall of Constantinople in AD 1453, was made worse by the news that a Court in Egypt has decided to close Saint Katherine's Monastery in Sinai, evicting the monks, the relics and all of the rest of their belongings. The bad news was also announced in Churches during the Holy Vespers for the Ascension of our Lord (link). Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Egyptian President Al Sisi had a personal summit not too longer ago, discussion various issues of mutual concern. We are happy and relieved to be able to tell you that the Egyptian Government has officially denied the news. 
Update: Apparently the decision was indeed made by the Court, but the Government has decided not to enforce it. On Monday, June 2, a Greek delegation will go to Egypt discuss the matter further (source).

Egyptian government denies reports of St. Catherine’s Monastery closure and eviction of monkshttps://t.co/0UYaZMOFiX

Yesterday, a flurry of articles appeared in the Greek and English-language press, reporting that the Egyptian government was seizing St. Catherine’s Monastery... pic.twitter.com/FVVqsasNsg

— Orthodox Christianity (@Orthodoxy2019) May 30, 2025

"Last night, the Egyptian government’s State Information Service issued a statement, saying that claims of closure and eviction are “completely unfounded.”

The statement reads:

In response to an inquiry by the Middle East News Agency regarding the judicial ruling issued on May 28 concerning the lands surrounding the Monastery of Saint Catherine and the rumors circulated about the confiscation of the monastery and its affiliated lands, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that such claims are completely unfounded and that upon reviewing the full text of the ruling, the following facts become clear (source)

Nikos Appelaios has details (Threadreader Page). 

Whatever the sequence of events may be, this is an opportunity to highlight the totally unique and irreplaceable nature and history of the Monastery of Saint Katherine, built between 548 and 565 during the reign of Emperor Justinian. Read it in this Threadreader Page. 

Updates:



May 30, 2025 My Greek TV: Sinai Monks Expelled: End of a 1700-Year Sacred Legacy.

"The Greek government has reacted to official statements issued late Thursday by the Egyptian Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which denied any change to the status of Saint Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai following a court ruling on Wednesday."

"Pending the full review of the court decision, the two governments will continue discussions (...) "in line with their shared understanding and the agreements reached (...) during the recent visit of the Egyptian president to Athens", government sources said (Source)

The Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis has had a telephone call with Egyptian President Al Sisi about the outrage that has erupted in the Greek world. On Monday, June 2, a Greek delegation will go to Egypt to further work on the agreement with a view to its speedy conclusion (source).

Live stream on Pemptousia (in Greek). 

May 30, 2025 ERT: Φωτεινά Μονοπάτια | Η Αγία Αικατερίνη του Θεοβάδιστου Όρους Σινά. (Documentary (in Greek)). Docu in English by Friends of Mount Sinai Monastery (link). 

The Black Wolf is right that Christianity is under attack. It has been for a long time, from Islamists as well as liberals of all sorts of stripes, separately or in joint coordination if they have to. And that includes in many cases our own Western Governments.

The world’s oldest Christian monastery - founded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian himself – is being closed by a muslim regime.

This is just part of what seems to be a series of "coincidences" against Christians; is the Faith then under attack? 🧵⤵️ pic.twitter.com/bFrU6lArH2

— TheBlackWolf (@thewolvenhour) May 29, 2025

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