Egypt’s foreign minister on Saturday welcomed a letter from the Archbishop of St Catherine’s Monastery approving a contract covering the monastery and surrounding land, the foreign ministry said.
Symeon’s letter was sent to Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and paves the way for the contract to be formally signed once a date for a signing ceremony is set, ministry spokesman Nader Zaki said.
The agreement is part of the implementation of a ruling issued by the Ismailia Court of Appeal on May 25, 2025, and is intended to bring all legal proceedings to an end, the statement said.
Abdelatty said Egypt was proud of the monastery, which the ministry described as one of the world’s oldest religious and heritage sites and said had been hosted by Egypt for more than 1,600 years.
He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to protecting the monastery and preserving its spiritual and religious standing, saying its historic significance embodied tolerance and coexistence among religions and civilisations.
