Historical Overview at a glance:
Emperor Justinian the Great founded Saint Catherine’s Monastery in the period from 527-565AD to serve as a fortress protecting Sinai’s massive mountain passes. The monastery’s location is considered sacred to the three monotheistic religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. As, it is on Mount Sinai’s biblical peak, where Moses was believed to have received the Ten Commandments, setting for man virtuous guidelines to lead his life. Moreover, the monastery still encloses the original “Burning Bush”, which Moses approached to discover that it was on fire, but not consumed, as it was protected by God’s spirit. God then talked to Moses stating“ I am your father’s God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” then commanded Moses to take off his sandals for the land to become holy (Exodus 3:2). Moreover, Mount Sinai is not only the site where Prophet Mohamed’s horse was believed to have ascended to heaven-creating of the mountain a significant Islamic site- but is also the site of the Seven Elders of Israel, which makes it a sacred Jewish site. The exquisiteness of the mountain lies in the fact that three monotheistic religions coexist in this very one place chosen by God; to draw pilgrims of different religions to come together in appreciation of the site’s sacred nature and absolute serenity. The monastery has witnessed remarkable historic changes in the region, with the invasion of Islam as a marker highlight. However, the monastery survived Islamic dominance of the region over many centuries, and is even famous for possessing written documents from Prophet Mohamed guaranteeing its protection, after it had provided him with asylum from his enemies- setting a remarkable lesson of tolerance and co-existence for visitors-. Visitors will be struck by seeing a Fatimid mosque within the monastery’s walls built during the Islamic invasion-, but it was never used for prayer, as it has been incorrectly oriented with Mecca. In the 7th Century, all isolated anchorites were demolished, except for Saint Katherine / Catherine’s monastery that only survived for the massive fortifications surrounding it. The presence of the crusaders in Sinai from 1099 and 1270 remarkably benefited the monastery as it was backed up by strong support of Christian rulers, which drew a countless number of pilgrims to it. In addition, the monastery’s position was strengthened by its independencies in Palestine, Constantinople, Egypt, Crete and Syria. Today, the monastery holds the second largest-after the Vatican- library of ancient, preserved manuscripts in numerous languages. It is also home to some of the earliest icons in the world, dating back to the 5th Century.

Saint Katherine / Catherine’s Monastery’s star features:
The Basilica of the Transfiguration:
The Basilica was built in AD527 by Emperor Justinian’s architect: Stephanos Ailisios, and is considered to be one of the very few surviving churches in the region from this period. The Basilica’s name is owed to a rare Mosaic of the Transfiguration in the apse, dating back to the 6th Century. A gilded, painted iconostasis from the 17th century separates the Basilica’s nave from its altar, sheltering behind it the Mosaic Transfiguration. Visitors will be struck by the church’s richness in decoration, not only evident in its 11th Century doors carved with magnificent reliefs of birds and flowers (which are believed to be the original doors from Justinian’s church), but also obvious in its marble floor and high coffered 18th Century ceiling. Six, grand pillars flank the Basilica’s central nave with Byzantine saint icons worshipped in each month of the year.

The Chapel of the Burning Bush:
Beyond the Basilica’s altar lies the monastery’s holiest place: The Chapel of the Burning Bush. The still existing and evergreen bush is believed to be a stock of the same bush, where God had spoken to Moses to free the Israelites to the Promised Land. The bush is of a species found nowhere else in Sinai, and all attempts to transplant a branch of it somewhere else has been unsuccessful. Although the chapel is usually closed to public, however, it internally holds a magnificent icon representing the Holy Virgin seated within the Burning Bush holding her son, with Moses worshipping barefooted on the left. Its holy alter stands above the roots of the Burning Bush, with the original bush flourished several yards further.

Well of Moses:
Inside the outer walls of the monastery (walls of Justinian dating back to the 6th century) lies the monastery’s main water source “Well Moses”, where Moses is said to have met his wife Zipporah.

The Monastery’s Library:
the largest and second in importance after Vatican’s library, holding over 3,000 ancient manuscripts and codices in Greek, Coptic, Armenian, Hebrew, Arabic and Syriac texts. One of the library’s main highlights is a 5th Century Syriac version of the New Testament known as the “Codex Syriacus”. The complex houses priceless works of art of Greek, and Russian icons, and matchless mosaics. Saint Peter (5th -6th Century) and the Christ in Majesty and ladder of Paradise (from the 7th Century) are among the only surviving icons from the Inconoclast era, where images were held (726-843). Today, a project is undertaken to catalogue the works embraced by the library.

Monastery’s Garden:
Amidst shady olive and apricot trees rests the monastery’s cemetery and the Chapel of St. Triphonius. What commonly draws visitors is the latter’s crypt holding the Charnel’s house, containing the skulls and bones of monks who died in the monastery over centuries.

Recommended Environs :
Hiking Mount Sinai:
Rising up to a soaring height of 7,500 ft, Mount Sinai allows visitors to hike to the Biblical Mount Horeb, where Moses is said to have waited 40 days and nights before receiving the Ten Commandments. Visitors can hire camels from the mountain’s foot, but the last 700 steps need to be climbed on foot. It is highly recommended to start climbing the mountain at night to reach the summit at sunrise to enjoy spectacular views. Adventurous visitors can take the steep route leading up the mountain known as “the Stairs of Repentance” with Moses Spring as a key highlight of that route. Camping lovers can spend the night 700 steps below the summit in an area known as Elijah’s Basin. The area is 1000 years old, and historically was the location where Moses’ escorts waited while he climbed to the peak alone. On the peak rests both a mosque dating back to the 12th century, and a small chapel known as the Chapel of the Holy Trinity built in 1934.

Mount Catherine:
Egypt’s highest mountain located southwest of Mount Sinai. Rising up to 8,666 ft allows visitors to enjoy a matchless view taking in the gulfs of Aqaba, Suez and the mountains of both Africa and Saudi Arabia. It is highly recommended for fit and adventurous travelers, while children and the elderly should not risk climbing, due to the mountain’s steep path

Saint Catherine’s Protectorate:
Established in 1996 and covering a vast area of 1,672 sq miles, the serene protectorate aims at preserving plant, animal and religious sites around Mount Sinai. The site offers amazing guided hikes by experienced Bedouins, with Wadi Shrayj and Wadi Arbaein as main hiking highlights.

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