A formal request has been submitted by Giannis Maniatis, Vice President of the Socialist Group and Head of the PASOK delegation in the European Parliament, calling for a debate on a recent Egyptian court decision that jeopardizes the operation and long-term viability of the historic Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai — the oldest Christian monastery in the world.
Maniatis is urging the European Commission to attend the upcoming plenary session in Strasbourg, scheduled for June 16–19, to present its stance on the Egyptian ruling and outline potential measures for safeguarding religious freedom in Egypt.
According to the request, the court decision strips the monks of their property rights, granting them only the right to use the monastery and its surrounding areas. The document further emphasizes that, aside from Archbishop Damianos, the abbot, none of the monks hold Egyptian citizenship and reside in the country on annual visas — a precarious arrangement that threatens the monastery’s stability and future.
This initiative follows a Written Question submitted by Maniatis on June 2 concerning the same issue. For the matter to be included in the June plenary agenda, support from other political groups within the European Parliament is required during negotiations set to take place next week.
Meanwhile, PASOK President Nikos Androulakis, during a meeting in Cairo with Archbishop Damianos and Archimandrite Porphyrios of St. Catherine’s Monastery, expressed deep concern over the situation. “Orthodox Christians around the world are alarmed by what is happening at St. Catherine’s in Sinai, one of the most powerful symbols of our faith and among the oldest monastic institutions,” Androulakis said.
He highlighted the need to protect both religious freedom and the monastery’s property rights, noting these were recognized in Egypt’s UNESCO bid for St. Catherine’s. He also mentioned the Socialist Group’s plan to raise the issue in the European Parliament.
