Saint Catherine Monastery testament to Egypt’s commitment to preserving religious freedom, Egypt’s ambassador to Greece

CAIRO – 3 September 2025:  Egypt’s ambassador to Greece, Omar Amer Youssef said on Wednesday that over 15 centuries, the Monastery of Saint Catherine has flourished as a remarkable symbol of peaceful coexistence in Egypt.

In an article published in the Kathimerini website, title: “Egypt: Guardian of Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, not its ‘besieger’”, he wrote that the extraordinary survival story of Saint Catherine’s Monastery stands in stark contrast to a world where religious sites are frequently repurposed, damaged, or destroyed, often erasing centuries of cultural and spiritual heritage.

“It serves as a testament to Egypt’s enduring commitment to preserving religious freedom, and protecting places of worship and devotion of all religions, in line with its constitution and legislation.” Ambassador Youssef said.

He explained that it is simply ‘inconceivable’ to call into question Egypt’s role in protecting and preserving the monastery throughout its history and upholding its sacred religious status, as clearly indicated by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty’s op-ed published in Kathimerini English Edition on June 26, 2025.

The ambassador affirmed that the monastery’s archbishop is neither “under siege” nor at risk of any threat to his person.

“In fact, the archbishop is entangled in an ongoing conflict within the monastery over his authority and competence, to reinstate himself as archbishop and to expel the dissenting monks, leading to unfortunate events that escalated between the monks from both sides.” He wrote.

The Egyptian ambassador affirmed that throughout the ongoing events inside the Monastery, “the police have exercised maximum restraint to avoid intervening by force against what are manifestly violent and unlawful acts, out of respect for the monastery’s sacred nature as a place of worship. Simultaneously, local authorities are exerting every effort to allow entry of food, medication and basic supplies to the monks inside the monastery.”

To claim that the archbishop is “under siege” and deprived of basic necessities not only distorts the truth, it also encourages the irresponsible and unlawful acts of violence at the monastery, a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, Egypt’s ambassador to Greece said.