The Coptic Archbishop of London is seeking clarification over reports that the oldest functioning monastery in the world is to be closed.
It follows a court ruling this week over a land dispute between the sixth century St Catherine’s Monastery and the South Sinai governate. The court in Sinai ruled that the monastery “is entitled to use” the land, which “the state owns as public property”, prompting fears it may be turned into a museum and its 20 monks evicted.
In a post yesterday on X, Archbishop Angaelos said he had spoken “this morning with the Egyptian Ambassador in London, our Papal Office in Cairo and @DavidAltonHL regarding reports around the matter of the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai. It would appear that the situation is not quite as has been reported. Awaiting further clarification and will be able to speak more factually once it has been received. Till then, praying for our brothers at the Monastery of Saint Catherine, and for monastic communities worldwide.”
St Catherine’s monastery was established at the biblical site of the burning bush, where God spoke to Moses and tasked him with leading the chosen people out of Egypt. It is also the reported location at Mount Sinai where the 10 Commandments were handed down to Moses.
The Egyptian government is refuting the concerns and in a statement the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said such claims are ‘completely unfounded’.
The statement said ‘this judicial ruling represents the first instance in which the legal status of the monastery has been regulated, with a clear affirmation of the preservation of its sacred standing.’
It said the judicial ruling referred to the existence of some remote areas ‘that are completely distant from the monastery and uninhabited, for which no ownership or possession documents exist. Consequently, these lands are considered state property.’
It added that the court had ‘approved the continued right of the monastery’s monks to benefit from those areas, as well as from the religious and archaeological sites within the region.’
Writing on X, Christian peer David Alton is also urging international leaders to seek verification for what he said would be a "shocking attack on an ancient religious community."