Property Law, Religious Ownership and International Heritage Obligations: the Legal State of the Saint Catherine’s Monastery at stake

By Vivika Gerogianni and Andrew Dearman

Saint Catherine’s Monastery has stood at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt since its construction in the late 6^th Century A.D. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002, it holds unique significance to the three major Abrahamic religions and remains a popular pilgrimage destination.^[1] However, a recent court ruling^[2] that transferred ownership to the Egyptian state, coupled with a major redevelopment project in Sinai, have threatened the integrity of the site, causing international concern. This ruling has been heavily condemned by the Greek Orthodox Church, yet the Egyptian media insist that the ruling will not affect the monastery’s operations or status.

The History of Saint Catherine’s Monastery

Monastic tradition first reached Sinai in the late 3^rd Century A.D., although Saint Catherine’s Monastery was not built until three centuries later at the behest of Byzantine emperor Justinian I.^[3] The new construction enclosed the Chapel of Saint Helen, erected on the site traditionally believed to be where Moses encountered the burning bush.^[4] Following the Arab conquests, the monastery experienced a period of decline, and during this time a small mosque was constructed within its walls: a rare historical example of Christianity and Islam coexisting peacefully. In these years, the monks also recovered the relics of Saint Catherine, who became the monastery’s namesake.^[5] In the Ottoman period, the site reaffirmed its Orthodox identity, and to this day it remains the oldest Christian monastery still in use.^[6]