Bolt From the Blue on Mount Sinai

By a decision handed down on May 28, 2025, by the court of Ismailia, Egypt, St. Catherine's Monastery's assets are now confiscated for the benefit of the Egyptian state, sparking a wave of concern about the future of this sanctuary and the monastic community that inhabits it.

Founded in the 6th century under the aegis of Emperor Justinian, St. Catherine's Monastery has survived the centuries, withstanding the tumult of wars, conquests, and persecutions. Its longevity is due in part to its status as a WAKF, refers to the permanent dedication a sacred place for religious purpose, protected by Quranic tradition, earning it the respect of the Bedouins of the Sinai Desert.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this jewel houses priceless treasures: ancient icons, rare manuscripts, sacred relics, and an exceptionally rich library. Until recently, these properties were administered by a community of twenty monks, who are members of the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem (not united with Rome), and who enjoyed almost absolute autonomy.

This privilege, the fruit of a long tradition, guaranteed both the spiritual and material preservation of the monastery, while giving it a rare aura of independence in a region marked by upheaval. The verdict of the Ismailia court, delivered on May 28, 2025, abruptly ended this autonomy. The monastery's assets now come under the control of the Egyptian state.

The monks, the centuries-old guardians of this place, are subject to severe restrictions. Their access to certain buildings is limited, and their presence is tolerated only for religious purposes, under conditions dictated by the new public authorities. This decision comes in an already troubled regional context, where religious and political tensions are intertwined.

The monks, in a grave statement, speak of a "de facto expulsion" from their own monastery. This confiscation, far from being an isolated incident, is the culmination of a long legal battle. For several years, the Egyptian state has intermittently sought to place the monastery under its authority.

This offensive, which began under the Muslim Brotherhood government, has intensified, revealing complex power struggles within the Egyptian state apparatus. Some analysts see this as the influence of a "deep state," in which factions, sometimes linked to Salafist groups, are beyond the control of President Abdel Fattah Sisi. Despite his strongman image, the latter seems unable to curb these internal dynamics, further weakening the monastery's position.

The confiscation comes in a tense geopolitical context. Sinai is the scene of operations by jihadist groups that have threatened the site with attacks. The court's decision also weakens the monastery's position in civil disputes, particularly those related to claims of adverse possession, where third parties seek to appropriate land or property.

Furthermore, it exacerbates diplomatic tensions between Egypt and Greece, which views the measure as an attack on its Hellenic and Orthodox heritage. Greece, deeply attached to the Orthodox heritage of Mount Sinai, reacted particularly strongly.

The (non-Catholic) Archbishop of Athens, Ieronymos, expressed his indignation in poignant terms: "I do not want to and I cannot believe that Hellenism and Orthodoxy are experiencing a new historical 'conquest' today." For him, St. Catherine’s Monastery, "the spiritual beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism," faces an existential threat.