Egypt pledges to preserve St. Catherine’s sacred status

Egypt has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the religious and historical status of Saint Catherine’s Monastery, following public concern over a recent court ruling, Egypt Today reports. A presidential statement clarified that the monastery and its affiliated religious and archaeological sites remain untouched and fully protected.

The ruling, issued on May 28, legally formalized the monastery’s protected status for the first time. Egypt’s foreign ministry dismissed speculation of land seizures as baseless and emphasized continued access for monks to religious areas.

Officials also noted that certain remote, uninhabited areas mentioned in the ruling fall outside the monastery’s domain and are classified as state land. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi recently reiterated the site's significance during a visit to Athens.

Cairo framed the ruling as a reaffirmation of Egypt’s long-standing respect for religious heritage and interfaith harmony.