To the Honorable Donald J. Trump
June 4, 2025
Re: The Threatened Status of the Monastery of Saint Catherine of Sinai in Egypt
Dear Mr. President,
We wish to convey to you our profound concern over the change of status announced by the Government of Egypt for St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula. This Monastery has functioned without interruption for over 1,500 years. The Monastery is built over the site where God spoke to Moses through the burning bush. It also contains the relics of Saint Catherine, a great Saint for whom the Monastery is named.
The Monastery was built under the auspices of Eastern Roman-Byzantine Emperor Justinian. Emperor Justinian’s codification of law has incidentally been very influential on European and western civilization. The Monastery is a UNESCO world heritage site and it is invaluable from cultural and historical, as well as religious perspectives.
The Monks who reside there live an ascetic lifestyle. They are at peace with all whom they come into contact with. St. Catherine’s is a model for peaceful interfaith friendship and coexistence. There is a spot reserved for Muslims to pray on the Monastery grounds.
The government of Egypt plans to seize the Monastery’s property, garden, and building itself. This is an undemocratic decree from the Egyptian courts and constitutes a violation of religious freedom if these unjust legal decrees are carried out. We ask for your assistance in condemning these actions and in using the influence of the American government over Cairo, so that it may reverse its plans for the Monastery.
In recent years, the government of Egypt has in fact assisted the Monastery as when four Egyptian Police officers were injured, and one other killed defending the Monastery from terrorists. We are asking for support to enable the Monastery to continue to operate under the same status that it has been operating for 1,500 years.
Saint Catherine’s is home to a library that contains books and manuscripts of great value. It is the owner of the Codex Sinaiticus, one of the oldest Bible’s in the world. It also possesses some of the oldest and most beautiful Christian icons in the world. They reflect the faith and theology of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Monastery and its holy sites are revered by all Eastern Orthodox Churches and serve as a place of pilgrimage for all Christians, including those who have faith in God even if they do not actively practice Christianity.
We are deeply grateful for your attention and for the much-needed assistance you can provide in this most critical matter.
Respectfully,
Capt. Rigos Evangelos, Acting President of IHA, Former Director of Hellenism AHEPA HJ-1, BBA PACE U, NY.
Alexandridis Antonis Professor, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras, Greece
Ανδρεάτος Αντώνιος, Καθηγητής Σχολής Ικάρων, ΕΛΛΑΣ
Aroniadou- Anderjaska Vasiliki, Ph . D. , Researcher-Professor of Neuroscience, Maryland , USA
Chatzilygeroudis Ioannis, Emeritus Professor, University of Patras, Greece
Gatzoulis Nina, University of New Hampshire, President of International Hellenic Association, Past President of Pan-Macedonian Association USA, Coordinator of World Pan-Macedonian Associations, USA
Gatzoulis Vassilios, Electrical-Nuclear Engineer Portsmouth NH Naval Shipyard, USA
Giannopoulos Panagiotis Chr., Professor Emeritus, University of Patras, GREECE
Goritsa Anna,President of the Daughters of Penelope, Esperos Chapter 359, AHEPA Family. Member of the Board of Directors of the American Women’s Organization of Greece
Groubos Petros, Professor Emeritus, University of Patras, GREECE
Efthymiou Marika, Thessaloniki, Greece
Efstathopoulos Dimitris, Orthopedic Surgeon, former Director of Microsurgery Clinic, KAT, Attica, Greece
Daskopoulos Antonis, Businnesman, GREECE
Despotis Sotirios, Professor, Department of Social Theology and the Study of Religion, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Dimouli Frida, graduate of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), former Political Analyst, Greece
Dritsos, I. Stefanos, Emeritus Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, Greece
Ioannou Christos V., Professor of Vascular Surgery, Director of the Thoracic – Vascular – Cardiac Surgery Clinic, Regular Member of the Board of Directors of PAGNI, Vice President of the Hellenic Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, University General Hospital of Heraklion, GREECE
Kasimos Dimitrios, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
Karakostas Theodore G., Master of Theological studies, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School
of Theology, Political Science, Northeastern University, Boston, Milton, USA
Karanikolas Pavlos, Professor Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Karkamanis Dimitrios, Fmr Senior Research Fellow, Lecturer, Swedish National Defense Research Agency, Stockholm, Sweden
Katagas Christos, Professor Emeritus, University of Patras, GREECE
Katsifarakis Konstantinos, Professor Emeritus, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE
Kefala Vaia, Sociologist, Greece
Kladi Marianthi, former Assistant Professor, Panteion University, Attica, Greece
Klimis Nikos, Professor, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE
Kodogianidis Nikolaos, PhD, Senior Electrical Engineer, Jacksonville, FL, USA
Kyriakopoulos Nicholas, Professor Emeritus of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC USA
Kouriannidis Giannis, Retired bank employee, Director of the magazine “Endochora”, Thessaloniki, GREECE
Kouroumalis Elias, Professor Emeritus of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, GREECE
Kyratzopoulos S. Vasileios, Computer Systems Analyst, GREECE
Kyriakou Georgios, Professor, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE
Lagos Dimitris. Emeritus Professor, University of the Aegean, Greece
Lazaridis Anastasios, BS, MS, PhD, Emeritus Professor, Widener University, USA
Lyrintz Ioannis , former professor , University of the Aegean, Guest Professor South China University of Technology ; Disting. Prof. Alma Mater Europaea University, Slovenia, GREECE
Malagardi Ioanna, PhD in Computational Linguistics – Historian, GREECE\
Manias Stefanos, Professor Emeritus, NTUA, GREECE
Δρ. Μαλλιάς Θεόδωρος, Καθηγητής Ψυχολογίας & Φυσικής Αγωγής Πανεπιστημίου Πάτρας. Συγγραφέας. Πρόεδρος Συλλόγου Καλών Τεχνών Κωστής Παλαμάς και της Διεθνούς Κίνησης για την ανάδειξη του Συμβόλου του Ολυμπισμού, τον Ολυμπιακό ύμνο του Κωστή Παλαμά ως Παγκόσμια Πολιτιστική Κληρονομιά. ΕΛΛΑΣ
Mavros Ioannis, Public Policy Expert, Economist, Member of the National Council for the Claim of Germany’s Debts to Greece
+ The Metropolitan of Kalavryta and Aigialeia Ambrosios, AEGION, GREECE
Dr. Baltatzis Panagiotis, Physician, 1st Vice President of the Hellenic American National Council, Member of the Board of Directors of theInternational Greek Association , Baltimore Maryland, USA
Bellas Athanasios P., Professor Emeritus, University of Patras, GREECE
Michopoulos Aristotle Ret. Professor of HCHC, USA
Moraitis Nicholaos. Ph.D. International Relations-Comparative Politics-U.S. . Foreign Policy-The dialectical course of the global political, economic and social system. University of California, Berkeley. Member of International Hellenic Association (USA)
Negreponti-Delivani Maria, Vice-Rector and Professor at the University of Macedonia, GREECE
Niarchos Panos, Retired, Indiana University , Former Governor of AHEPA, District 12, Indiana, USA
Nikolakopoulos Konstantinos, Professor of Biblical Theology, Chair of the Department of Orthodox Theology, University of Munich (Germany)
Okos Antonis, MD. Seattle, USA
Panagakos John , Senior Axiomatic e . a ., Teacher Chess – Writer –Coordinator Commission Poetry of International Hellenic Association ,GREECE
Parara Polyvia, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Classics, University of Maryland, USA
Panoskaltsis Vasilios, Emeritus Professor, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE
Papagiannis Grigorios, Professor, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
Papadakis Georgios, Special Technical Laboratory Staff, University of Crete, Greece
Papamarinopoulos Stavros P., Professor, University of Patras, GREECE
Pelekanos Nikolaos, Professor, University of Crete, Greece
Pelidou Synkliti-Errietta, former Professor of Neurology, University of Ioannina, GREECE
Persephones Petros, Professor Emeritus, Department of Physics, University of Patras, GREECE
Ralli Angeliki, Professor Emeritus of the University of Patras, President of the Linguistics Committee of Academia Europaea , GREECE
Rigos Nikolaos G., Retired, Microelectronics Engineer, Intel Corporation , Resident of California, USA
Dr. Sarantopoulos Athanasios, Ph.D., MBA, Electrical Engineer – Assistant Professor, Business & Technology Department, Webster University – Secretary of International Hellenic Association, GREECE
Sini Martha, Founding Member of the Board of Directors for the Creation of a Hellenic Museum,Maryland, Hellenic Heritage Museum of Maryland (Maryland), Tour Guide at the Walters Museum in Baltimore Art Museum , Cultural Exhibition Creator , Maryland, USA
Skenderi Despina, Entrepreneur, Journalist – Editor, USA
Spyropoulou Zoe, LL.M., Attorney at Law, Athens, GREECE
Sotiropoulou Georgia, Professor of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Greece
Dr.-Ing. Spathopoulos Theodoros, Aerospace Engineer, Former Director of R&D, Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI), Greece
Stathopoulos Giorgos, Businessman, Social Worker, Attica, Greece
Stathopoulou Efrosini, Entrepreneur, Social Worker, Attica, Greece
Stathopoulou Polyxeni-Katerina, Kindergarten Teacher, USA
Stampoliadis Elias, Former Professor, Technical University of Crete, GREECE
Stavridis Leonidas, Professor Emeritus of the National Technical University of Athens GREECE
Tamouridis Nikolaos, Lieutenant General (retd)-Honorary First Deputy Chief of General Staff , GREECE
Tsiotas Georgios, Adjunct Professor, University of Crete, GREECE
Zara’s Th. Konstantinos. Professor, Department of Theology, NKUA» USA
Vassiliou Ioannis, Emeritus Professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece
Vasiliadis Dimitris, PhD Space physicist National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Washington, DC, USA
Vitas Haris, IMF Staff Member 1969-1999, IMF Board Member 2000-2004, Economic Advisor to the President of Madagascar 2006- 2010,Visiting Professor , Seoul National University 2013-2014, USA
Vlachos Dimitrios , Associate Professor, Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, Greece
Prof. Dr. Vogiatzis Alexandros, ΕΛΛΑΣ
Voudrias Evangelos, Emeritus Professor, School of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
Chaitidis Evgenios, Civil Engineer, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Coordinator of Balkan Issues, IHA , former Member of Parliament, former Chairman of the Committee of the Hellenic Parliament of the Diaspora, former Prefect of Thessaloniki, former Regional Governor of Epirus, GREECE
Hatzopoulos Ioannis N., MSCE , PhD , Emeritus Professor, University of the Aegean, T. Professor, CSUF University ( USA ), Mytilene, GREECE
Louvrou-Monopoli Eleni, Philologist, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Monopolis Spyros, Child Psychiatrist, Former Assistant Professor, University of Maryland, USA
Karantzikos Athanasios, Lieutenant General (ret.) Hellenic Army, GREECE
Karatzioς Christos, MD, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Efthymiadou Sonia, Educator, Kastoria, HELLAS (Greece)
Kelesidis Vasileios, retired Professor, Technical University of Crete GREECE
Athanasia Biska Adjunct Professor of Modern Greek Language and Culture Adelphi University. St. John’s University USA
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