It is with deep concern and deep sadness that we face the serious situation facing the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai.

The recent court decision of the Egyptian authorities threatens to seize the monastery’s property and disrupt its sacred mission. The Holy Monastery of St. Catherine, nestled at the foot of Mount Sinai, stands as proof of the enduring heritage of faith and interreligious harmony. Founded in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian I, it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monasteries. 

The monastery is located at the exact spot where God appeared to Moses in the Burning Bush and below the Mount of the Decalogue, where the Law was given. This sacred ground has nurtured saints honored by the Church, including St. John of the Ladder, author of the Ladder of the Divine Ascension, and Gregory of Sinai, who transplanted the traditions of the Hesychast to the Slavic peoples. 

This monastery has preserved the most valuable archaeological and spiritual heritage of Christianity, including the famous Sinai Library with its ancient manuscripts and the most important collection of pre-iconoclastic icons in the world. The Prophet Muhammad granted a charter to the monks of St. Catherine’s Monastery in Mt. Sinai in 626 and 628 CE. This charter protected the rights of Christians and others in the area.

Over eighteen centuries, this spiritual institution has maintained harmonious relations with various administrations and regional authorities, which have consistently affirmed and protected its traditional order and sacred character. Its walls have known centuries of devotion and peace between Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

The recent judicial actions that threaten to confiscate the monastery’s property and disrupt its spiritual mission are deeply worrying. Such measures also endanger a place of immense historical and cultural importance. The Egyptian government must honor its previous commitments to protect the autonomy and heritage of the monastery.

The AHEPA stands ready to assist in the preservation of this monastery and is asking to participate in any discussion deemed necessary to assist in resolving this issue quickly and expeditiously. 

Thank you for your attention,



Savas C. Tsivicos

Supreme President