Monastic Split Delays Egypt’s Ruling on St. Catherine’s Monastery Future
A bitter dispute among the 14 monks of St. Catherine’s Monastery has halted negotiations with Egypt, and the Court of Cassation is set to issue its decision on Oct. 24 without further postponement.
Infighting within the 14-member brotherhood of St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai has brought talks with Egypt to a standstill as the Court of Cassation prepares to rule on Oct. 24, refusing any further postponement. The split traces back to former head Damianos, who last summer locked the monastery’s gates and expelled monks who opposed him, then escalated the conflict with an open letter accusing Greek officials of betraying national ideals.
Greek diplomats arrived in Cairo lacking the original Arabic court documents, relying only on a one-page summary supplied by Damianos, while Egypt’s Justice Ministry argued the monastery should be treated as a monument under European heritage law. Earlier rulings in 2022 and 2025 had already favored Egypt’s position, and the latest appeal could compel the monks to leave the 1,500-year-old site. Archbishop Symeon, recovering from illness, has so far spoken only to close aides, leaving the brotherhood’s next steps uncertain.
