A controversial court decision in Egypt has ignited an international outcry over the legal and religious standing of one of Christianity’s oldest monasteries.

According to the Daily Caller, A May 28 ruling by an Egyptian appeals court declared Saint Catherine’s Monastery and surrounding sacred lands part of the state’s public domain, drawing fierce criticism from Orthodox Church leaders and sparking diplomatic friction with Greece.

The ruling, issued in the city of Ismailia, specifically declared that the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine, located in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, falls under public domain ownership. While the court confirmed that the monks may continue using the monastery and the religious and archaeological sites surrounding it, the legal reclassification of the property marks a watershed moment in the institution’s 1,500-year history.

According to the judgment, the monastery may still access certain sites that have existing contracts with local authorities, including lands within designated natural reserves. However, areas deemed uninhabited, distant from the core grounds, and lacking ownership documentation are now recognized as state-owned.

Orthodox Church leaders condemn legal setback

One day after the court’s verdict, Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece released a sharply worded statement denouncing the decision. The archbishop accused Egyptian authorities of undermining legal norms and threatening the monastery’s spiritual and cultural mission.

In his statement, the archbishop claimed the decision effectively dismantled the monastery’s long-standing function by eroding its religious, cultural, and legal significance. He further argued that the decision placed the “world’s oldest Orthodox Christian Monument” in jeopardy, suggesting it marked a return to darker historical episodes.

“The property of the Monastery is being seized and confiscated,” Ieronymos said, calling the site a “spiritual Lighthouse of Orthodoxy and Hellenism” that is now facing a matter of real survival.”

Egypt responds to accusations of property seizure

The court decision has intensified diplomatic tension between Egypt and Greece, prompting an official response from Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 30. The ministry rejected the archbishop’s claims, describing them as “completely unfounded” and damaging to historically friendly relations between the two nations.

Egyptian officials emphasized that the legal action was the first of its kind to define the monastery’s legal status, and they argued that the ruling reinforces protections for the monastery’s religious character. They underlined that the court expressly upheld the monastery’s rights to use its central and contracted properties, including those inside natural reserves.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry also clarified that the government classified only remote and uninhabited areas, without ownership records, as state land. They insisted this legal clarification does not equate to seizing ecclesiastical land or interfering with religious practices.

President affirms religious protection of the site

Responding to mounting tensions, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi issued a public statement reaffirming the country's intention to protect Saint Catherine’s Monastery. He stressed Egypt’s commitment to maintaining the religious sanctity of the site and preventing any violations against it.

“The Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt reiterates its full commitment to preserving the unique and sacred religious status of Saint Catherine’s Monastery,” said el-Sisi.

The president’s remarks came after reports emerged that he had previously assured Greek leaders during a May visit to Greece that the monastery’s situation would remain unchanged. The archbishop has since accused President el-Sisi’s government of reneging on those assurances in light of the recent court developments.

Centuries-old ties tested by modern legal ruling

The monastery, which houses an unparalleled collection of ancient manuscripts and rare Byzantine icons, has operated continuously for more than 15 centuries. It holds special significance for both the religious and academic communities, as well as for cultural preservationists.

The decision to legally define parts of the monastery’s surrounding land as public domain marks a significant shift in how Egypt regulates sacred heritage sites. Though the ruling contains clear stipulations about usage rights and contracted locations, church leaders maintain it challenges the essence of the monastery’s autonomy.

Archbishop Ieronymos asserted an “unequivocal condemnation” of altering the legal framework surrounding the monastery, which he said has been in place for centuries. He warned the ruling may usher the site into a difficult period of uncertainty and distress.

Cloud of uncertainty looms over sacred site

While the Egyptian government continues to stress that no confiscation has occurred, Greek clerics argue that the move significantly alters the monastery’s operating environment. They suggest the legal shift could impede not only religious worship but also the safeguarding of historical and cultural treasures housed within the site.

Tensions remain high as both Athens and Cairo navigate the diplomatic fallout. Although both nations have longstanding religious and cultural ties, the incident has prompted renewed attention on how religious minority sites are treated legally and politically in the region.

As debates continue, the future of Saint Catherine’s Monastery now rests at the intersection of legal interpretation, spiritual tradition, and international diplomacy.