The Splendid Beauty of South Sinai’s Monastery of St. Catherine

History of the Monastery of St. Catherine

Commissioned by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I during the 6th century AD, the Monastery of St. Catherine was initially constructed as a place to house the monks that receded in Sinai along the slopes of Mount Sinai also known as Mount Moses. It is believed that Moses received the Ten Commandments from God at the summit of this mountain. It is currently known now as the Monastery of St. Catherine, but its official name is actually the Sacred Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount Sinai.

The real life figure Saint Catherine of Alexandria was a martyr in the beginning of the 4th century AD. The monastery carries her name because its monks discovered her body on the close by Mount St. Catherine five centuries later, where they believe it had been placed there by angels after her martyrdom.  

Shortly after in the six century, Emperor Justinian commanded a fortress to be built around the original chapel. Along with this new fortress the Roman Emperor also ordered the construction of a basilica and a monastery. This was in order to provide safe housing for the monastic community that had taken on a life of its own there. The monastery would serve as a safe haven or refuge for the Christians residing in Egypt’s South Sinai.

Since its construction the monastery has been visited by pilgrims from all around the world. This may seem like an easy task today with globalization and the ease of travel. However, in ancient times, the pilgrims braved extremely difficult and treacherous journeys in order to reach the isolated site. Luckily, today there is a paved access road to reach the site, making the monastery easily accessible by tourists coming in from all over Egypt, especially the neighboring Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab.

Moreover, the monastery has always been honored by leaders throughout its long history. Some of these figures includes Empress Helena, Emperor Justinian, Prophet Mohammed, Sultan Selim I, Empress Catherine of Russia, and even Napoleon Bonaparte. This is of course due to its religious significance as well as the fact that is houses a wealth of important documents dating back to biblical times.

The Religious Significance the Monastery of St. Catherine

The monastery doesn’t just honor St. Catherine. It actually honors more than 170 Sinai St.s. These are too many to list here; however, they include the like of St. John Climacus, abbot of Sinai and author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent as well as ascetic fathers Hesychios and Philotheus, two St.s with the name of Anastasius, Gregory of Sinai and Symeon Pentaglossos.

The monastery can be seen as a treasure chest of spiral goods. It houses manuscripts and early printed books that are well-preserved in the Sinai library. This library that lives inside the church is widely celebrated all across the world not only for is charming antiquity but also for the unparalleled siginifance of the volumes of spiritual, religious and even political books its contains.  

The Treasures of the Monastery of St. Catherine

The monastery houses a handful of various structures, constructed at different times. The most important is the Church of the Transfiguration of Christ the Savior. Do not be fooled, though. This church is actually a complex which features nine smaller churches. In total, the Monastery of St. Catherine features ten different churches, the living spaces of the monks, a refectory, an olive press, ossuaries, and the Sinai Library that is home to a wealth of rare books and 6,000 hand-written documents collected along its long lifespan.

Highlights of the Monastery of St. Catherine

The Library at the Monastery of St. Catherine

Perched at the foot of Mount Sinai is the St. Catherine’s Monastery—the oldest continuously open monastery in the world. It is home to thousands of rare ancient and medieval manuscripts. This special library holds the key to some of history’s most hidden secrets. In fact, its massive library’s scope ranks only second to the Vatican Library. Just like the monastery attracts pilgrims from all over, the library draws in thousands of scholars and travelers interested in seeing his historical marvel for themselves.

The library at St. Catherine holds a wide variety of super rare religious, medical, historical and philosophical texts written in 13 distinct (modern and antiquated) languages that date all the way back to the fourth century AD. These include sections of the Codex Sinaiticus, the oldest written version of the New Testament. Up until the recent digitization efforts that have been taking place at the library, many of these rare manuscripts puzzled scholars and were very mysterious in nature, unable to be identified. Experts believe this is due to scribe’s erasing and reusing the palimpsests all throughout the fifth and 12th centuries, causing irreparable damage to some original texts but still interesting to witness how many important scholars and figures left their thumbprints here.  

The Sacred Tree  

Located inside the Monastery of St. Catherine—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s oldest continually inhabited monastery—is the fabled Sacred Tree where it is believed that God spoke to Moses, according to the Abrahamic religion. A holy pilgrimage site, the tree has its roots firmly planted inside the church with its branches extending gracefully outside—a mesmerizing sight surrounded by the unspoiled nature of Southern Sinai.  

Final Tip to Keep in Mind  

Travelers visiting should keep in mind that although this is a touristic place, it is still a functioning monastery. This means you should dress conservatively. Avoid shorts, you won’t be permitted to enter with them. Women must also cover their shoulders.

As you can see, there's no shortage of amazing things to see and do in Egypt. Whether you're a history buff, an art lover, or simply a curious traveler, this country with Nile Cruise Vacation has something to offer everyone. So pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready to explore the top attractions of Egypt!