Greece, Egypt near deal on Saint Catherine’s Monastery
A major step for the historic Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai was completed with the ordination of Archbishop Symeon by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, as attention now turns to his enthronement and the pending agreement with Egypt on the monastery’s legal status.
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, speaking after the ordination, said the government is “in discussions with the friendly country of Egypt, with the aim of definitively securing the status and rights of the Monastery of Saint Catherine within the Egyptian legal system.”
He echoed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ recent statement in Parliament that there is “a preliminary common understanding.” Gerapetritis added that “the final word belongs to the Sinai Brotherhood” and expressed hope that “a comprehensive agreement will be reached soon.”
Athens seeks a swift resolution to the issue, which remains a “thorn” in Greek-Egyptian relations and factors into broader efforts to strengthen cooperation between the European Union and Egypt. The first EU-Egypt summit is scheduled for Wednesday.
Completion of the negotiations would resolve uncertainties following an Egyptian court ruling on the monastery’s ownership. The new archbishop must first be recognized by presidential decree in Egypt before signing the agreement, though Egyptian authorities have reportedly promised immediate recognition.
ekathimerini
