Mount Athos opposes ownership changes at Saint Catherine's Monastery

The Holy Community of Mount Athos has issued a formal letter to the newly elected Archbishop of Sinai, Pharaoh, and Raithu, Simeon, expressing deep concern regarding the legal status of Saint Catherine's Monastery.

Reports suggest a potential shift toward a “dual ownership” model, where ownership of the monastery and its historic properties would transfer to the Egyptian state, while the Sinai Brotherhood would retain only usage rights. The Holy Community of Mount Athos argues that converting historical ownership into a granted right of use is not a mere administrative change, but a fundamental alteration of the status quo.

The representatives of the twenty Holy Monasteries of Mount Athos emphasized that the monastery's autonomy, holdings, and privileges have been respected for centuries under various legal orders, including Islamic and Ottoman systems. They warned that undermining this long-standing monastic regime could set a dangerous precedent for other ancient patriarchates and holy sites throughout the Middle East.