Cairo denounces Hagia Sophia move, develops Egypt's Christian sites
Days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Istanbul’s historic Hagia Sophia a mosque, Egypt announced ambitious restoration plans for South Sinai's Saint Catherine area.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered that Istanbul’s historic Hagia Sophia be converted back into a mosque July 11. On July 21, the Egyptian government announced that it was allocating 40 million Egyptian pounds ($2.5 million) to restore Saint Catherine’s Monastery in South Sinai governorate, one of the oldest monasteries in the world and a Christian landmark.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly visited Saint Catherine’s on July 21 and met with the monks there who awarded the Order of Saint Catherine. During his visit, Madbouly announced that restoration and development works for Saint Catherine's Monastery and the nearby city in South Sinai would begin immediately.
Saint Catherine’s Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in the world, dating to the fourth century. The monastery is nestled at the base of Mount Catherine, the highest peak in Egypt. The monastery attracts thousands of tourists and pilgrims each year and is home to several churches and archaeological treasures.
Churches and European countries widely and vocally criticized Turkey’s decision to convert the Hagia Sophia Museum into a mosque and the Egyptian press contrasted it with the Egyptian government’s decision to turn Saint Catherine’s into a tourist destination.
