Dimitris Natsios challenges Greek government over Saint Catherine Monastery agreement

Dimitris Natsios, president of the Niki party, has formally challenged the Greek government in Parliament regarding the ownership and administrative status of the Saint Catherine Monastery. Natsios submitted a draft of a 2024 agreement prepared between the Monastery and the Egyptian Governor of South Sinai to highlight discrepancies in current negotiations.

According to the 2024 draft, Article 3 stipulated that all buildings, plots, churches, and dependencies belong to the ownership of the Saint Catherine Monastery. The document also stated that the Monastery would maintain its autonomy, managing its own administrative and religious affairs without external interference.

Natsios questioned why this framework was abandoned in favor of a new agreement that allegedly requires the Monastery to surrender land and request permission for its use, potentially involving rent. He argued this shift downgrades ownership to a mere right of use. The Niki leader has called on the Prime Minister to submit the 2026 draft agreement, including all maps and annexes, to clarify whether the new terms recognize the Monastery’s ownership and self-governance.