The visit was attended by Dr Maximos Charakopoulos, Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO); Dr Fotios Pappas, President of the Assembly; Dr Nikolaos Boras, Vice President of the Hellenic Parliament; and members of the Egyptian House of Representatives.
As part of the Orthodox Parliamentary Assembly's official programme in Egypt, running from 10 March to 17, the visit aimed to strengthen cultural, religious, and historical ties among member states, aligning with the Assembly's core objectives.
The delegation began their visit by attending the Holy Liturgy at the monastery's church before embarking on a guided tour led by senior clergy. During the tour, they explored the monastery's most significant landmarks, including the Burning Bush, the Monastery Museum, the Fatimid Mosque, and the monastic library, which houses the second-largest collection of Christian manuscripts in the world after the Vatican Library.
On their religious pilgrimage to St. Catherine's Monastery, the delegation expressed deep admiration for its unique archaeological and religious heritage, highlighting its exceptional role as a symbol of coexistence among the three Abrahamic religions.
Governor Dr. Khaled Mubarak underscored the ongoing development projects in St. Catherine's City, part of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's national initiative, The Great Transfiguration. This initiative seeks to elevate the city's global standing by expanding its capacity for religious, cultural, and environmental tourism while ensuring sustainability.
Emphasizing the monastery's unparalleled spiritual and historical significance, the governor described it as a primary global religious destination—the only place on Earth where God's Divine Presence was manifested. The delegation expressed their gratitude to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, commending his efforts in preserving and developing St. Catherine's City. They also praised Egypt's long-standing commitment to religious freedom and coexistence, citing the Prophet Muhammad's Covenant (Achtiname) with Egypt's Christians, which has safeguarded their religious rights since the 7th century.
Reaffirming the importance of strengthening cultural and religious ties among member states, the Orthodox Parliamentary Assembly delegation accepted Governor Mubarak's invitation to attend the official inauguration of the ongoing development projects under The Great and Sole Transfiguration initiative. The governor expressed his hope that this visit would mark the beginning of continuous collaboration between the Orthodox Parliamentary Assembly and South Sinai Governorate, encouraging the delegation to explore more of Egypt's rich religious and cultural heritage in future visits.
At the conclusion of their visit, the delegation members expressed their admiration for the remarkable development efforts, the well-organized infrastructure, and the improved accessibility to the monastery. They emphasized that their visit was strictly religious, not political. They also praised Egypt's security and stability, particularly in South Sinai, expressing confidence in the country's hospitality and safety.
Before departing, they shared their eagerness to return, further strengthening ties between Egypt and the Orthodox world.
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