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The Saint Catherine Monastery stands arsenic 1 of the oldest and astir revered spiritual and archaeological landmarks successful the world. Deeply embedded successful the spiritual and taste practice of Egypt, it has agelong symbolized interfaith coexistence and respect for ineffable traditions. It is portion of the broader Saint Catherine region, registered since 2002 arsenic a UNESCO World Heritage Site owed to its outstanding universal cultural, historic, spiritual and ecological value.
Egypt has consistently upheld its committedness to state of religion and belief, and the extortion of spiritual sites. This committedness is rooted successful the country’s nationalist individuality and has been actively reflected successful policy, particularly implicit the past decade. Numerous churches person been restored, rebuilt, while interfaith dialog and inclusion person been elevated arsenic nationalist priorities. Religious ceremonies and Christian holidays are publically observed, reflecting the broader civilization of tolerance shared by Egyptians of each faiths.
With this discourse successful mind, the absorption to the caller tribunal ruling issued connected May 28, 2025 appears to person been gravely misaligned with the realities connected the ground. It not lone misinterprets the ineligible aspects of the ruling, but besides overlooks the well-established and accordant stance of the Egyptian state successful safeguarding state of content arsenic a law and argumentation cornerstone. It is neither close nor tenable to suggest that immoderate measurement undertaken by the state would reason this principled commitment.
Therefore, the caller claims alleging that Egypt seeks to take power of the monastery, displace its clergy, oregon change its spiritual individuality are wholly baseless of immoderate factual foundation. The tribunal ruling does not successful immoderate way oregon signifier infringe connected spiritual state nor jeopardize the sanctity of the Monastery. In fact, it reaffirms the sanctity and spiritual status of the Monastery and unequivocally protects it from immoderate signifier of encroachment oregon prejudice. The ruling safeguards the Monastery’s existent status and guarantees its continued possession of spiritual sites. Egypt afloat respects and appreciates the Monastery and its affiliated practice sites arsenic spiritual and archaeological symbols.
To clarify immoderate misunderstandings oregon misinterpretations, and retired of heavy respect for Greek Orthodox Christians worldwide, Egypt took swift and transparent steps to clarify the ruling. On May 30 and June 23, bearing successful caput the strategic relations betwixt Egypt and Greece, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi spoke straight with the Greek Prime Minister to affirm Egypt’s afloat respect for the Monastery and its spiritual value and reiterate Egypt’s enduring committedness to proceed preserving the Monastery’s religious, spiritual and ecclesiastical functions, arsenic faithfully honoured passim history.
The ruling safeguards the Monastery’s existent status and guarantees its continued possession of spiritual sites
I besides welcomed my Greek counterpart successful Cairo connected June 4 to proceed the unfastened and constructive dialog betwixt our two large nations. Moreover, I met with the European ambassadors successful Cairo connected May 30, reiterating Egypt’s unwavering presumption of respecting and preserving the Monastery’s spiritual and ecclesiastical role, which has continued unobstructed for much than 1,500 years, and which Egypt is committed to continuing to observe. All spiritual activities successful the Monastery of St Catherine and affiliated spiritual archaeological buildings shall not beryllium obstructed for immoderate crushed whatsoever. Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an authoritative statement emphasizing that the ruling does not compromise the sanctity oregon the humanities integrity of the Saint Catherine Monastery oregon immoderate of its affiliated archaeological sites and burial grounds. Rather, the court’s determination marks the archetypal ceremonial ineligible designation of the monastery’s status and affirms the state’s committedness to preserving its ineffable character.
Additionally, Egypt continues to prioritize its increasing concern with Greece. This committedness was reaffirmed during President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s authoritative visit to Athens connected 7 May 2025, where bilateral relations were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership. The visit besides witnessed the motorboat of a High-Level Cooperation Council betwixt the two countries, signaling a caller signifier of institutionalized collaboration. During his remarks successful Athens, President El-Sisi underlined Egypt’s steadfast dedication to preserving each spiritual sanctities connected its territory. He specifically highlighted the revered status of Saint Catherine Monastery successful South Sinai, noting its spiritual and spiritual value not lone for Egypt but for the broader planetary community.
The Saint Catherine Monastery remains protected, respected, and supported some arsenic a surviving spot of worship and arsenic a beacon of shared quality heritage. Located astatine the ft of Mount Sinai, the ineffable ιστοσελίδα where Prophet Moses spoke to God, the monastery holds profound spiritual and spiritual significance. It embodies Egypt’s enduring committedness to protecting places of worship, promoting interfaith harmony, and preserving our outstanding practice of universal value.
Dr Badr Abdelatty is overseas affairs curate of Egypt.
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