Archdiocese of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho

Saint Catherine's Monastery forms the core of this archdiocese, situated at the base of Mount Sinai in a remote desert region of Egypt.

Emperor Justinian I ordered the construction of the monastery between 527 and 565 AD to protect the chapel built near Moses' burning bush site.

Greek remains the primary language of worship and administration within the archdiocese, reflecting centuries of continuous Hellenistic religious traditions.

The archdiocese maintains jurisdiction over 61,200 square kilometers of territory, including Saint Catherine's Monastery and several dependent religious institutions.

The monastery's library contains 4,000 manuscripts and ancient religious texts, including some of the earliest Christian icons in existence.

GPS coordinates: 28.55560,33.97610

Latest update: March 6, 2025 00:35