Egypt: Closing of St. Catherine's Monastery? Ministry contradicts!

Egypt: Closing of St. Catherine's Monastery? Ministry contradicts!

St. Catherine's Monastery, one of the oldest and most important monastic complexes in the world, is faced with support from the Egyptian state in the current discussion about its future. Egypt's Foreign Ministry assured on June 1, 2025 that the monastery in Sinai is not threatened with closure. This statement came in response to media reports that spoke of a possible expropriation and conversion of the historic monastery into a museum. These claims were firmly denied and a court confirmed that the Greek Orthodox monastic community retained the right to use the monastery. The Egyptian state also remains the owner of the monastery.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stressed that the planned tourism projects in the region will not endanger the sanctity of St. Catherine's Monastery. The monastery has immense cultural and religious significance for both Jews and Christians. It is located at the place known as the Burning Bush, where God revealed to Moses. The complex, which dates back to the 5th century, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2002, underlining its international value Deutschlandfunk culture reported.

History of St. Catherine's Monastery

The monastery has a long and eventful history that dates back to early Christianity. The first recorded visit by a Christian pilgrim to Jabal Musa was in 363 by Julianos Saba. In the following centuries the region became an important monastic landscape. Around 530, more than 600 hermits lived in the area and practiced a subsistence economy. The stories of famous monks such as Johannes Klimakos and Anastasios Sinaites testify to the spiritual importance of the monastery. Mount Sinai is mentioned in the Koran, which illustrates the religious diversity of the place in the Islamic context, as in Wikipedia ) is presented.

The architecture of the monastery has been renovated several times over the centuries. Emperor Justinian had important buildings built between 548 and 565 to protect the monks from raids. Despite the Islamic conquest in 640 and subsequent changes, the monastery remained a place of faith and preserved its existing religious community. A bishopric was established in the 10th century and the monastic community maintained close contacts with the Byzantine Empire.

Current situation and challenges

Recent political developments and the focus on tourism are raising concerns about the future direction of St. Catherine's Monastery. Media reports of a planned reconstruction and possible expropriation were not only rejected by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, but also supported by court confirmations that the monastery remains under the administration of the Greek Orthodox community.

St. Catherine's Monastery therefore remains a national heritage and a central element of Egypt's cultural memory. The state's recent declarations of protection and its connection to the UNESCO World Heritage Site make it clear that the Egyptian state is committed to preserving the monastery and not endangering its historical significance. The coming years will be crucial to ensure the balance between tourism developments and the preservation of the spiritual values ​​of this unique place.