The public consultation on the draft law by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, titled “Establishment of a Public Law Legal Entity named ‘Greek Orthodox Sacred Royal Autonomous Monastery of the Holy and God-Trodden Mount Sinai in Greece’”, concluded today, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 10 a.m.
The consultation, which began on Tuesday, July 8, attracted interest from organizations and citizens who wished to provide feedback on the proposal.
Purpose of the Draft Law: Support and Representation of the Monastery of Sinai in Greece
The draft law foresees the creation of a public law legal entity (N.P.D.D.) aiming to:
- Officially represent in Greece the Greek Orthodox Sacred Royal Autonomous Monastery of Saint Catherine of the Holy and God-Trodden Mount Sinai, established around 549 AD and continuously operating to this day. The Monastery is also mentioned in Article 18, Paragraph 8 of the Greek Constitution as the “Holy Monastery of Sinai.”
- Support the spiritual and social work of the Monastery of Sinai.
- Manage the property assigned to the Monastery within Greek territory to support its purposes.
Establishment and Organization of the New Legal Entity
Part A of the draft law concerns:
- The establishment, administration, and operation of the new legal entity based in Athens.
- The subordination of the new body to the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports.
- The official Greek and international name of the legal entity, which abroad will be known as: “Greek Orthodox Sacred Autonomous Royal Monastery of the Holy and God-Trodden Mount Sinai in Greece.”
A Step to Strengthen the Monastery’s Work and Tradition
This initiative aims to institutionalize and safeguard Greece’s relationship with the Monastery of Sinai, one of the oldest and most significant Christian monastic centers in the world. By establishing the new legal entity, the government seeks to enhance the spiritual, historical, and cultural mission of the Monastery within Greece, while also ensuring the protection of its property and rights.
The next phase involves reviewing the feedback received during the consultation period and submitting the finalized draft law to the Greek Parliament for approval.
Click here to read the draft law in Greek
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
