Scholarly interest in the Sinai increased markedly in the nineteenth century. The studies of scholars from the West are better known, though at the same time studies of great importance were carried out by scholars from eastern and south-eastern Europe as well as the Middle East.

In the course of the twentieth century, there is to be noted the presence of missions of various international foundations, which in their turn have contributed to the creation of various centres of Sinai studies around the world, to which modern scholars many times address themselves before venturing to Sinai itself.

However, aiming at the more systematic organization and coordination of the said matters, following upon a decision taken by His Eminence the Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho, Monsignor DAMIANOS, along with the Holy Council of the Sinai Fathers in conjunction with him, a decision was made concerning the organization and operation of a Sinai archive of monuments by making use of the possibilities that have become available through the use of modern digital technology.