The ownership dispute of the historic St Catherine Monastery in Sinai caused by a court ruling in Egypt has set the Greek government on fire. Greeks and Egyptians are in constant contact seeking a viable solution for the problem. The leadership in Cairo has reaffirmed its commitment, a Greek delegation from several ministries and experts is heading to Cairo in upcoming week.
So much has been leaked to the press from the court ruling is that “the property is transferred to the Egyptian state and that the 20 monks and the abbot will be users of the compound, but no longer owners.
According to some media on Sunday, court ruling has two aspects: it provides that the monastic community – mostly elderly monks – can use the facilities for the practice of religious rituals for as long as it is present in the Monastery and under the abbot, Archbishop of Sinai and Raithu Diamanos, who is 91 years old!. It also provides that all sites are considered archaeological and supervised by the Supreme Council of Antiquities, as well as that a number of properties are transferred directly to the Egyptian state.
These include the large gardens outside the walls of the Monastery, on which its supply depends, the gardens of Agioi Saranta, where the springs are located, with all that this entails, the gardens of Agioi Anargyroi with the ancient olive groves from which the monastery’s olive oil is produced, the gardens of the Great Science, where Saint Paisios practiced asceticism, and the cave of Saint John of the Stairs, which is considered a landmark of particular religious importance.
Behind the decision is, of course, the exploitation of the area for tourism purposes as the big project foresees thus preserving the “monastic character” of St Catherine Monastery, however, without land ownership disputes that could delay the “Great Transfiguration Project.”
Originally the Great Project was planning to transform the Monastery into a museum.
What’s the stake? It is primarily commercial. To exploit the area for tourism. After all the claims on the Monastery began in 2015, when foreign investors showed a big interest in the area.
The Great Transfiguration Project
St Catherine Monastery is to be integrated into the so-called “Great Transfiguration Project” in the Saint Catherine area, known and respected world-wide for its spiritual significance.
Five-star hotels, malls, chalets, restaurant and cafes, recreation facilities, open celebration areas, conference halls, a spiritual sanctuary in the mountains surrounding the Holy Valley, which will become a premium destination for holistic and therapeutic tourism, in addition to being a mecca for mountain climbers. The project will make available various touristic and entertainment services for visitors, such as golf cars to transport tourists from the parking area to the St Catherine Monastery, so Egypt Daily News.
And certainly a panoramic view for the pleasure of the international visitors.
The development of Saint Catherine Airport is also under consideration.
The project, located on the sacred grounds of Mount Sinai, aims to transform the area into a “world-class spiritual and tourism destination” – so local officials and investors – and expects 30 million tourists by 2028.
By May 2025, the project has been completed at over 90 percent.
The holy and sacred significance is soon to be over by the hordes of tourists, who would insist to visit the place where God appeared to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments, according to the Old Testament.
The “Great Transfiguration” is being implemented by several ministries such as Urbanization, Tourism, Environment, and investors is allegedly the know hotel-chain Marriott.
It includes plans to reuse underground water and establish a road network linking the touristic destinations of South Sinai, such as Dahab and Sharm El-Sheikh.
There will be also a “Peace Square and Building,” a 12,000 square meter site which will include an outdoor celebration area, a museum, a theater, a conference hall, a cafeteria, and meeting rooms. The existing eco-lodge is being expanded, featuring 74 chalets and a new restaurant, to accommodate a growing number of visitors.
A new eco-lodge in Wadi El-Raha is being developed, with 192 environmentally friendly rooms and 56 suites. A mountain hotel covering 12,900 square meters will feature multiple views of Saint Catherine’ s Monastery, the Mount of Transfiguration plateau, and Wadi El-Raha. The hotel will incorporate a large cave in the mountains, creating a unique setting with panoramic views.
Adjacent to the mountain’s foot, a desert garden will connect the new eco-lodge with the mountain hotel, and a pedestrian walkway, known as “Moses’ Path,” will mimic the historical route of Moses through Wadi El-Raha, leading to the Mount of Transfiguration. The project also includes a new residential area in the Zeitouna region, which will include residential units, services, and 21 hotel complexes with a total of 546 residential units.
The project also focuses on upgrading the residential area of the local Bedouins and building a new residential compound, developing the Valley of the Monastery, and constructing a new road and utilities network with safety measures against floods.
Greater Transfiguration
According to the New Testament, Transfiguration, is the occasion upon which Jesus Christ took three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John, up on a mountain, where Moses and Elijah appeared and Jesus was transfigured, his face and clothes becoming dazzlingly bright.
More pictures of the Great Transfiguration Project HERE