Minute on St Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai, Egypt

St Catherine’s Monastery, an autonomous monastic community spiritually connected with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, located at the foot of Mount Sinai in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited Christian monasteries. It was built between 548 and 565, by order of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. It was recognized as a World Heritage site in 2002.

Given the unique treasure of world Christianity that St Catherine’s Monastery represents, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches is greatly disturbed by reports received about actions taken by the Government of Egypt affecting the present and future status of the site, and regarding developments in the vicinity of the monastery.

Following a history since 2012 of actual or threatened litigation by Egyptian government authorities claiming ownership of sites belonging to the monastery, and despite constructive negotiations subsequently undertaken between the parties, on 28 May 2025 a court decision was issued recognizing the Egyptian state as the owner of all parts of the site, including the Holy Monastery itself. Consequently, the monks are now tenants in their monastery, which has been operating without interruption for 1,500 years. The presence of the monks in the monastery is precarious since they remain in the monastery on the basis of an annual residence permit, which the Egyptian authorities may decide not to renew at any time.

Also in view of the forthcoming meetings of the WCC Faith and Order Commission in Egypt, 

The Central Committee asks the General Secretary to:

• write a formal letter to the President of Egypt expressing the World Council of Churches’ concern about this matter, and calling for a clear and binding agreement recognizing the Holy Monastery’s right and title to the site in perpetuity, and guaranteeing protection of the religious life and duties of the monastic community.
• Engage with UNESCO for its intervention for the protection of the Holy Monastery as a World Heritage Site, and of its Christian monastic character.