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Negotiations between the Sinai Brotherhood and the Egyptian government over the legal and institutional framework that will govern the future of St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai have reportedly reached an impasse, with no specific timeline for an agreement in the immediate future, according to the Athens daily Ta Nea.

The proposals exchanged by the two sides since early June had taken shape around a central framework for an agreement by the end of July. However, they appear, for the time being, to have remained unfulfilled, as outstanding issues concerning several farm plots were never finalized following the Egyptian side’s latest counterproposal in early August. As a result, the agreement has not been finalized into a complete and unified text.

The concern in Athens and Cairo is heightened, but remains within the cautious framework dictated by the excellent bilateral relations between Greece and Egypt. Athens has sought a settlement that would safeguard the renowned Greek Orthodox monastery’s religious use and autonomy, while also addressing the status of its estates (glebes) outside the main monastery complex.

More broadly, newly enthroned Archbishop Symeon of Sinai, the abbot (hegumen) of the monastery, following a markedly different approach from his predecessor and relying on a strong team of experts, is said to have succeeded in bringing negotiations to a framework considered highly advantageous to the Monastery of Sinai. This development, according to Ta Nea, has raised concerns among those seeking his removal.

‘They took advantage of the silence’

Church and diplomatic sources cited by Ta Nea focus on the “parallel” activity of a small number of members of the Brotherhood. External actors, some of whom are said to have clear political and party affiliations, allegedly took advantage of the monastery’s prolonged period of “silence” in August, due to the celebrations of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary feast day on Aug. 15 and the monks’ religious duties, as well as Archbishop Symeon’s illness.

According to the report, these individuals became involved in the Brotherhood’s deliberations at the time and influenced monks to adopt positions contrary to their initial views.

Symeon is reportedly in Athens, where he has been ill for several weeks, while the monastery’s day-to-day administration is being conducted, as provided for, by the Council of Elders, headed by Elder Father Niphon.

According to information cited by Ta Nea, a delegation from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem was in Athens last week as well. The Jerusalem Church and Patriarch Theophilos III, who have ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the Sinai and the monastery, have maintained a close interest in the crisis that has affected Sinai for the past year and a half. A delegation may travel to Sinai in the coming days to examine the current situation jointly with the monastic brotherhood. The Archdiocese of Athens has likewise expressed interest in the situation to Archbishop Symeon.

Against this backdrop, the intervention by the Holy Community of Mount Athos has been described by sources as an “unpleasant surprise” for the Sinai Brotherhood, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and government offices.

Ta Nea adds that, following the Egyptian court ruling last year, the establishment of a “dual” ownership arrangement would nevertheless represent a significant outcome for the brotherhood, since the ruling currently recognizes ownership as belonging solely to the Egyptian state.