Summary

• Saint Catherine Monastery, nestled at Mount Sinai’s foot in Egypt, dates back to Emperor Justinian I’s commission in 565 AD. It’s believed to be where Moses encountered the burning bush and received the Ten Commandments.
• The monastery holds immense importance for Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, witnessing historical transformations like the addition of a mosque during the Fatimid Caliphate.
• It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, housing a unique citadel, a 6th-century church by the Burning Bush, and a vast library with ancient manuscripts, rivaling even the Vatican’s collection.
• Saint Catherine’s boasts the oldest operating library globally, preserving treasures like the Codex Sinaiticus, Christian Palestinian Aramaic texts, and an array of artistic masterpieces, including icons dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries.
• Over centuries, the monastery has attracted pilgrims and scholars due to its religious, historical, and architectural significance, making it a gateway to heavenly art and a vital pilgrimage site at the base of Mount Sinai.

One of the oldest continually functioning monastic communities in the world is Saint Catherine monastery, where the all-mighty looked upon Egypt and delivered a message of grace and love to one of his loyal subjects on top of one of the heist points in Egypt. Over the centuries, the place became the center for miracles, including the great Saint Catherine Monastery, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Egypt.

In the Saint Catherine Monastery article, you will discover an ancient bastion of history located at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt. This venerable sanctuary continues to captivate visitors with its timeless allure, offering a glimpse into centuries of religious devotion and cultural significance.

History of Saint Catherine Monastery

Emperor Justinian I (527–565 AD) commissioned the construction of the Sacred Autonomous Royal Monastery of Saint Catherine of the Holy and God-Trodden Mount Sinai around 565 AD which encompasses the Chapel of the Burning Bush attributed to Empress Helena. This chapel is believed to be where Moses encountered the burning bush and received the Ten Commandments. The living bush found on the premises is thought to be the same one witnessed by Moses.

The site holds immense importance for Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It saw the creation of a mosque by transforming an existing chapel at the time of the Fatimid Caliphate. The monastery endured various historical periods, surviving the decline during the Ottoman Empire but restored in the early days of the 20th century. The monastery used to be the home to Christian hermits who stood as the sole remaining bastion after their elimination during the 7th century. Its survival was ensured by robust fortifications, accessed through a high door until the 20th century. The presence of Crusaders between the First Crusade and 1270 AD attracted European Christians, which fostered increased pilgrimages.

The monastery and its surrounding dependencies form the Church of Sinai which is overseen by an archbishop who doubles as the monastery’s abbot. The church’s exact status within the Eastern Orthodox Church remains uncertain; some consider it autocephalous, while others view it as an autonomous church under the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem. The archbishop receives consecration from the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem in recent centuries, who often resided in Cairo. During the Crusades which was marked by tension between Catholic and Orthodox churches, the monastery received patronage from Byzantine emperors and Kingdom of Jerusalem rulers and their honorable courts. Saint Catherine’s Monastery was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

Location of Saint Catherine Monastery and How to Get It

Saint Catherine Monastery is found in Sinia Peninsula at the base of Mount Sinai which is located at the altitude of five thousand feet above sea level within a narrow valley just north of the mountain. Next to the monastery are three mountains which are near it, and they are Ras Sufsafeh “Mount Horeb” Jebel Arrenziyeb, and Mount Sinia. Through booking with a travel agency, everyone will enjoy a seasoned tour guide, an up-to-date vehicle, and a skilled driver who will offer some of the most incredible facts.

Geography of Saint Catherine Monastery

Saint Catherine’s is a Greek Orthodox located on Mount Sinai at an altitude of 1500 m (5000 ft) above sea level within a narrow valley just north of Mount Musa in the Sinai Peninsula. Set Beneath the mountain where the prophet Moses is believed to have received the Ten Commandments.

Saint Catherine’s Monastery sits amidst three majestic mountains: Ras Sufsafeh, believed to be the biblical Mount Horeb and located about 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) to the west; Jebel Arrenziyeb, reaching its peak approximately 1 kilometer southward; and Mount Sinai, also known locally as Jebel Musa, traditionally linked to the biblical Mount Sinai and situated around 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) to the south of the monastery. These towering peaks form a stunning and sacred natural backdrop to the monastery’s historical, religious, and cultural significance.

Origin And Name of Saint Catherine Monastery

This Greek Orthodox monastery’s original name was the Sacred Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount Sinai and the Monastery of the Transfiguration, but later on, it became connected with St. Catherine of Alexandria, who is a 3rd-century martyr who was tortured to death by her father for succeeding in converting 50 of his followers to Christianity in 307 AD. St. Catherine’s Monastery became a major pilgrimage destination in the Byzantine Era even till its own current day.

Places of Interest In Saint Catherine Monastery

Saint Catherine’s monastery is a defining feature of the Holy Land; within its great wall lies a unique citadel that is incredibly important and rich in religious and historical facts. One of its grand treasures is a massive library containing ancient manuscripts and icons second only to the Vatican itself and a 6th-century church located directly on the side of the Burning Bush.

The Monastery’s great Library consists of the biggest and most significant of its type on the planet; the library contains a rich collection of 4,500 manuscripts, mainly Greek, plus Arabic, Coptic, Syriac, Slavonic, and more, plus a considerable number of printed books. About 5,000 of these are old editions, some of which even date to the earlier days of the discovery of printing.

It holds an impressive collection of irreplaceable works of art, mosaics, and early icons. Inside the church lies El-Mouta church (the church of the dead), plus six wells, four springs, and a large garden filled with fruit trees of various kinds and two mills.

Manuscripts In Saint Catherine Monastery

Saint Catherine’s Monastery boasts the oldest continually operating library globally which was established between 548 and 565 AD. This esteemed library houses the second-biggest collection of ancient manuscripts and codices worldwide, second only to the Vatican Library. Among its treasures are texts in Greek, Georgian, Syriac, Armenian, Church Slavonic, Arabic, Ethiopic/Ge‘ez, Christian Palestinian Aramaic, Latin, and Caucasian Albanian languages, including rare Hebrew and Coptic books. In 1844 and 1859, the monastery unearthed the Codex Sinaiticus which is a nearly complete Bible manuscript dating back to the 4th century, initially believed to be the oldest. The Codex Sinaiticus found its way to the British Library in London.

Between 1855 and 1857 AD, valuable manuscripts of Christian Palestinian Aramaic, Greek, Georgian, and Syriac were discovered, which are presently housed in museums located in Leipzig and St. Petersburg. In 1892, an early Gospel manuscript, known as the Syriac Sinaiticus, was discovered in the monastery’s library. In 1893, the first catalogs of the Syriac and Arabic manuscripts were made by scholar Agnes S. Lewis. The monastery is also home to the Ashtiname of Muhammad, which is an ancient document that claims the Islamic prophet Muhammad provided protection to the monastery. Additionally, it contains Mok’c’evay K’art’lisay, which is a compilation of supplementary books from the Kartlis Cxovreba, which dates back to the 9th century.

Works of Art at Saint Catherine Monastery

The complex houses an invaluable array of artistic treasures known as mosaics, regarded as one of the world’s most exceptional compilations of early icons. Among these are numerous encaustic pieces alongside significant religious artifacts like reliquaries, chalices, and church edifices. The extensive collection of icons traces back to the 5th and 6th centuries, showcasing unique pieces that have survived through time. The monastery has remained unexcavated by Byzantine iconoclasm, plus it has never faced plundering. One of the most ancient icons depicting a theme of the Old Testament is carefully preserved within the monastery. Since the 1960s, efforts have been underway to meticulously catalog these priceless collections.

The monastery served as a pivotal hub for the evolution of Crusader art, nurturing a distinctive hybrid style. It houses an impressive collection of over 120 icons crafted in this unique fashion, constituting the largest such compilation in existence. This remarkable assortment is believed to have been predominantly fashioned by Latin artisans, quite possibly monks, who were associated with or resided in the monastery during the 13th century.

One of the most beautiful pieces of art and Icons include:

• Icon of the enthroned Virgin and Child with saints and angels, 6th century
• The oldest known icon of Christ, Pantocrator, encaustic on panel
• Crucifixion, 13th century
• Holy doors
• Madonna and Child, 13th century
• 13th-century Byzantine icon of Saint Michael the Archangel
• Transfiguration, 12th century
• Ladder of Divine Ascent
• Emperor John VIII Palaiologos
• Icon of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
• The monastery, 18th century
• Christ as the Ancient of Days, 7th century

Interesting Facts about Saint Catherine Monastery

• St Catherine Monastery was founded in the 6th century, around 548-565 AD, and was considered one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world. It was built at the site believed to be the burning bush from the biblical story of Moses.
• The monastery has stood the test of time; it has been a haven for monks and pilgrims and has been preserved remarkably well over centuries. Saint Catherine’s Monastery was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. Its significance lies not only in its religious importance but also in its architectural and historical value.
• The monastery houses an exceptional collection of religious and historical artifacts. It contains a library with a vast collection of ancient manuscripts and documents, including the Codex Sinaiticus, one of the oldest surviving complete manuscripts of the Bible.
• The monastery has been a site of interaction between different cultures and religions that reflect a unique blend of influences from Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
• The monastery’s architecture showcases a blend of Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox styles. Its defensive walls were constructed for protection against invaders.
• The monastery is situated at the base of Mount Sinai, which is believed to be the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Many pilgrims visit both the monastery and the mountain, making it an important pilgrimage site.