Egypt's authorities to close St. Catherine Monastery in Sinai
The oldest Orthodox monastery is planned to be turned into a museum.
The Egyptian authorities have decided to close the Orthodox Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai – the oldest continuously operating Christian monastery in the world – and convert it into a state museum, writes UOJ in America.
The decision is based on a court ruling and provides for the eviction of the monastic community and the confiscation of all monastery property.
Founded by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, the Monastery of Saint Catherine has survived centuries of upheaval. The current actions, taken in peacetime, have shocked religious and political leaders throughout the Orthodox world and beyond. The monastery is under the jurisdiction of the Autonomous Church of Sinai within the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
The monks of the St. Catherine Monastery are launching a global mobilization campaign, calling on Christian Churches and other religious groups to oppose this decision. The monastery, known for its invaluable spiritual and cultural heritage, is considered an important symbol of Orthodox Christianity.
The fate of the St. Catherine Monastery now is hanging by a thread, as international pressure mounts and believers unite to protect one of Christianity's most sacred sites.
Previously, the UOJ reported on the threat of monks' eviction from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
