Mount Sinai Monastery: Sisi Denounced ‘Malicious’ Rumors Amid State Measures

The news hit like a bombshell. An Egyptian court decided to close the ancient monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai – the oldest continuously operating Christian monastery in the world – and seize its property, forcing the monks out. This significant development comes just weeks after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s commitment to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that “no one will touch it.” It hasn’t even been a month since Sisi’s visit to Athens, where he appeared visibly upset by rumors circulating about potential actions against the monastery, emphatically denying any such possibility. Indeed, he described these scenarios as baseless, expressing concern over the potential impact on relations between Greece and Egypt. “Such a thing will not happen, and I personally assure you not to believe malicious rumors. The Egyptian state and I personally commit that the historical relationship between Egypt and the Monastery of Sinai cannot and will not be undermined,” Sisi had stated. During his address, Mitsotakis also highlighted the unique cultural heritage of the Monastery, thanking Sisi for his personal interest in protecting it. Despite these assurances, however, the Egyptian court’s decision was announced today, Thursday (29.05.25), marking a reversal from recent years’ promises.