Egypt’s decision to close the 15-century-old Sinai Monastery has sparked a storm of reactions . In a shock decision, the Egyptian Court of Appeals has upheld the final closure of the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai, as well as the confiscation of its property. We are talking about one of the most historic sites of world cultural heritage, the monastery-symbol of the coexistence of the three great monotheistic religions – Christianity, Judaism and Islam. And yet, the Greek government under Kyriakos Mitsotakis , instead of reacting dynamically, is choosing to be passive.

Archimandrite Porphyrios, a spokesman for the Monastery, did not mince his words: “This is a slap in the face of religious freedom internationally ,” he told ERT, emphasizing the importance of the Monastery as a spiritual meeting point for the three major religions of the world. “ It is the center where the three largest monotheistic religions in the world meet. That is, Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and you understand this dynamic. This is a slap in the face of religious freedom internationally,” he said, speaking to ERT.

Air talks from Maximou who… is still looking for the court decision

In his statement, the government spokesman states that the government is awaiting the court’s decision , which has already been published – also on newsbreak.gr – while, as he says, there is no change in what was agreed with Al-Sisi.

“Regarding the Monastery of St. Catherine of Mount Sinai, the Greek Prime Minister remains committed to the commitment he received publicly and privately from the President of Egypt during the Supreme Council of Cooperation between the two countries in Athens to preserve the cultic Greek Orthodox character of the Monastery and immediately awaits the signing of the relevant agreement, as agreed between the parties. When the official and overall content of the court decision is known and evaluated in this regard, an official position will be taken. From the Greek side, we do not expect any variation in what was agreed ,” said Pavlos Marinakis.

Embarrassment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Kyriakos Mitsotakis did not make a single statement while the  Foreign Ministry is awkwardly following the developments of the Christian monastery, which is now in the hands of Muslims . ” The Governments of Greece and Egypt have been working systematically in recent times for an agreement that will ensure the sacred Greek Orthodox character of the area. We are awaiting the delivery of the decision of the Egyptian court that was issued yesterday,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Lana Zohiou replied to a journalist’s question. And she continued: ” The Greek Foreign Minister immediately contacted the Egyptian Foreign Minister and made it clear that there is no room for deviating from the common understanding of the two sides, which was expressed by the leaders of the two countries in the context of the recent Supreme Cooperation Council in Athens . ”

What did Mitsotakis say to al-Sisi?

The issue of the monastery was discussed during the meeting of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, about three weeks ago, in the context of the declaration of a strategic partnership. In fact, the symbolism of the Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai and the importance of preserving its character as a living and functional beacon of the Greek Orthodox world were emphasized. “ A rare monument of cultural heritage that connects the two countries. I want to thank you in particular for your personal interest – I emphasize this – which you have shown in the protection of the Monastery and its Greek Orthodox character,”Mitsotakis had stated.

Muhammad’s “Ashtiname” for the protection of Sinai

The Ashtinamah of Muhammad (or “Testament of the Prophet”) is a document purportedly issued by Muhammad in 623 AD to the monks of the Monastery of Saint Catherine at Sinai . The name comes from the Persian phrase meaning “letter of reconciliation”.

The original testament was removed by the Ottomans in 1516-17 and transferred to Constantinople . The monastery preserves certified copies that confirm its authenticity.

The text is a declaration of tolerance and protection for Christians, calling on Muslims to:

• Respect their rights: Christians should not be harassed, oppressed, or taxed arbitrarily
• Protect holy places: Churches and monasteries are inviolable
• Exempt religious from taxes: Monks and clergy are exempt from taxation and military service
• Respect mixed marriages: Muslims can marry Christian women only with their consent , without being prohibited from practicing their religion
• They provide protection: Islam has an obligation to protect Christians from violence and arbitrariness

There are differences of opinion among scholars. While older scholars considered the document authentic, newer ones have expressed reservations due to the absence of references to early Islamic texts and the difficulties of verifying certain elements.

Reactions

SYRIZA: The government is exposed

“The information according to which, based on a court decision, the Egyptian side is overturning the status quo of the Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai in order to convert it into a museum, while seizing its real estate, despite the alleged “understanding” between Mitsotakis and Sisi, is an extremely worrying development, which irreparably exposes the Mitsotakis government,” SYRIZA said in a statement, noting: 

“We recall that just a few days ago, on May 7, Mr. Mitsotakis, during his meeting with the Egyptian President, thanked him for his “personal interest” in the “protection” of the monastery and its Greek Orthodox character, while a Joint Declaration was signed, which provided, among other things, for the deepening of cultural cooperation between Greece and Egypt,” notes Koumoundourou and adds:

The attempted overthrow of the regime of the Monastery of St. Catherine of Sinai demonstrates the carelessness with which the Mitsotakis government handles particularly sensitive ecclesiastical issues, as well as its significant lack of credibility, which, in addition to domestic, also produces particularly unfavorable results in the country’s international relations. The government must immediately provide the necessary information on the reasons why the Egyptian side deviates from the Mitsotakis-Sisi understanding, and take all necessary actions in order to practically support the autonomous Greek Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai. 

Greek solution for Mount Sinai: “We have a government of national shrinkage and betrayal!”

Angry announcement from the Hellenic Solution about the uprooting of Orthodoxy from the Sinai Monastery and the eviction of the monks .

“The Mitsotakis government is proving to be a ‘ government of national destruction’,” the Hellenic Solution party states and points out:

“For years, they presented K. Mitsotakis to us as the “prime minister of international contacts and successes”. So after we ceded part of the EEZ and National Sovereignty to Egypt with the disastrous agreement of “reduced influence”, now the Egyptians come, after the ” dithyrambic meeting” Mitsotakis – Sisi and uproot Orthodoxy from the Historic Monastery of Sinai without even informing Greece,” the Greek Solution states in its statement and concludes by speaking of a government of failure:  “We are now dealing with a government – a pest, a government of failure, a government of national shrinkage and – unfortunately – betrayal.”

Samara’s fierce attack

Antonis Samaras has issued new harsh criticism of the government , this time regarding the developments surrounding Mount  Sinai .

The former prime minister denounces the “unprecedented and painful” international “disrespect and marginalization” of the country. ” We are constantly on the defensive against developments ,” he points out, following the response of the Egyptian judiciary that decided to confiscate the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai and remove the monks.

Antonis Samaras describes Egypt’s decision to confiscate the monastery as “outrageous” . At the same time, on the occasion of this issue, he brings up the “unthinkable” decision to include Turkey in European defense programs, making a double criticism of the government’s policy.

At the same time, he emphasizes that “immediate” global mobilization is required for the Monastery of Saint Catherine, utilizing “the entire diplomatic capital” of Hellenism and Orthodoxy.

Antonis Samaras’ announcement:

“Just a few days after the unthinkable decision to include Turkey in European defense programs, we are also witnessing Egypt’s outrageous decision to confiscate the spiritual beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism: Mount Sinai, the oldest Orthodox Christian Monastery!

This is an unprecedented and painful international disrespect and marginalization of Greece. We are constantly on the defensive against developments . Immediate mobilization, on a global scale, is required for Mount Sinai. With the entire diplomatic capital of Hellenism and Orthodoxy, coordinated.”

Archbishop Ieronymos on the situation at the Holy Sinai Monastery

” Following yesterday’s scandalous decision of violent infringement of human and especially religious freedoms, issued by the judicial authorities of Egypt, the world’s oldest Orthodox Christian Monument , the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine of Mount Sinai, is entering a great ordeal, which harks back to other dark times…

Essentially, the Egyptian Government itself decided, despite the recent commitments to the contrary by the Egyptian President to the Greek Prime Minister , to dismantle any concept of law and, essentially, to attempt to single-handedly extinguish the very existence of the Monastery, negating its entire function , its very worship and spiritual work, as well as its cultural one.

The property of the Monastery is being seized and confiscated, and this spiritual Lighthouse of Orthodoxy and Hellenism is now facing a question of real survival.

With immense sadness and justified anger, I call on every Greek and every international authority to understand the supreme stakes and to immediately take action to protect the fundamental religious freedoms of the Holy Monastery of Sinai.

I unequivocally condemn any attempt to change the regime, which has been in force in the region for 15 centuries, and I appeal to the responsible Greek Government and personally to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to take immediate and appropriate action, so that normal and lawful order is restored and the Holy Monastery is not effectively abolished.

I wholeheartedly express my fraternal solidarity both to the Brotherhood and to its Abbot, His Eminence Archbishop of Sinai, Faran and Raythos, Mr. Damianos, as well as to the Greek brothers who serve sacrificially in the wider Sinai region.

Finally, I do not want and cannot believe that today Hellenism and Orthodoxy are experiencing yet another historical “fall” .

We cannot allow this. ”

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source – athensvoice.gr

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