Delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate Visited the Monasteries of St. Anthony the Great and St. Macarius the Greattranslated

On November 7, 2026, a delegation of monastics from the Russian Orthodox Church, led by the Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia, Metropolitan of Singapore and Southeast Asian Metropolitan Sergius, continued their pilgrimage to the holy sites of Egypt.

Early in the morning, the participants of the trip visited the monastery of St. Anthony the Great. Pilgrims ascended to the cave where the saint labored and celebrated a liturgy in honor of the founder of Christian monasticism.

After descending the mountain, the delegation was warmly welcomed by the abbot, Bishop Justin, and the monastery brotherhood. The archpastor acquainted the guests with the history of the monastery, spoke about the admission of young novices, and personally accompanied the pilgrims during the tour of the monastery.

The monastery of St. Anthony the Great preserves the legacy of the first centuries of Christian monasticism. The history of this ancient active monastery dates back to the 4th century, when the example of St. Anthony inspired ascetics to seek solitude in the Egyptian desert. Testimony to that era are the remains of monastic cells discovered during the restoration of the monastery.

Continuing their acquaintance with the Orthodox holy sites of Egypt, the delegation visited the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in the New…