Churches for Peace in the Middle East join with Archbishop Hopeful America and stand with him on the issue of preserving and safeguarding the status and assets of the historic Saint Catherine’s Holy Monastery on Mount Sinai.

The Churches express their deep concern and sadness at the recent decision of the Egyptian court that threatens the property and poses serious risks to the autonomy, spiritual mission and integrity of the oldest operating Christian monastery in the world, a leading symbol of peace, prayer and coexistence with unparalleled spiritual, historical and cultural significance.

The Churches note the momentous statement of the Archbishop of America, who rightly described the monastery as a living witness to the unbroken legacy of faith, theological education, and inter-religious coexistence. They also stress the importance of protecting religious freedoms and holy shrines throughout the Middle East.

At the same time, they call on the Egyptian government to uphold its longstanding commitments to safeguard the autonomy and sacred mission of the Holy Monastery and appeal to religious leaders, political officials, international organizations, and all people of goodwill to join their voices in support of the preservation of the Holy Monastery. “Let us work together, they note in their statement, so that this sacred place, a unique and irreplaceable spiritual treasure, may continue to inspire and unite people of all faiths for generations to come.

The Churches for Peace in the Middle East was founded as an institution in 1984 and is a coalition of more than 30 national church communities and organizations, including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant and evangelical traditions, to encourage the adoption of U.S. policies that promote peaceful resolution of the conflicts in the Middle East with a focus on the Palestinian-Israeli issue.