St Catherine's Monastery lies in the shadow of Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa) in the Wadi ed-Deir. The spot where the Monastery now stands is traditionally revered as the site of the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1).
St Helena, the mother of Constantine visited the site in the fourth century and the fourth century pilgrim diary of Egeria bears witness to the presence of an eremetical group tending the spot and welcoming pilgrims.
St Catherine's is the only monastery still active in the Sinai, and consists of a group of 10-15 Greek Orthodox monks who still welcome pilgrims today. The present buildings date from the sixth century when the Emperor Justinian offered his patronage. The main basilica was built by him with the magnificent apse mosaic depicting the transfiguration of Christ. (Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2)
"Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him."
The Crusading era brought a new wave of iconographic art. Icons of St George surrounded by the great crusading legends are on display alongside the early works from Egypt, Syria, Constantinople and Sinai.
The great walls were provided as a defence against, marauding tribes and still surround the Monastery today. Some restoration of the upper wall took place under the guidance of Napoleon who also offered his protection in 1798-1801.
The Monastery houses one of the most famous collections of Christian art and ancient manuscripts dating from as early as the fourth century AD through to the present day. The Codex Sinaiticus, now held in the British Museum, was originally part of St Catherine's collection.
Despite its isolation, the site of the Burning Bush has drawn pilgrims throughout the centuries. Traditionally a pilgrimage has incorporated an act of repentance and here in Sinai pilgrims would have had to say their confession before stepping onto the Holy Mountain. They would pass through the Gate of St Stephen and find a confessor waiting by the Byzantine steps leading up to the summit.
Today the mountain is open to all, but with the hermitages and small walled gardens dotted around the mountain, some of which remain in use, there is still something of the ancient reverence. The local tribe of Bedouin (converted from
Christianity to Islam in the seventh century) are the descendants of the original builders of the Monastery.
Eutychios, Patriarch of Alexandria, in an early written source states that the Emperor Justinian ordered 200 families from Pontus and Alexandria to work in the service of the monks. To this day the small mountain tribe cares for the Monastery and its surroundings.
The Legend of St Catherine
St Catherine of Alexandria lived in the early fourth century and was martyred by the Emperor Maximinus in 305 AD for refusing to denounce Christianity. To add to the Emperor's fury, when he sent his philosophers to argue with her they too returned converted to the Christian faith.
She is sometimes known as St Catherine of the Wheel due to the torture inflicted on her. She was finally beheaded. After her execution tradition claims her body vanished. According to the legend, the angels transported it to the peak of the highest mountain in Sinai, now called St Catherine's. About five centuries later, guided by a dream, monks of the monastery built by Justinian found her body, brought it down from the mountain and placed it in a golden casket in the church. Part of the remains were taken by Crusaders back to Europe, but what was left still stands in the casket behind the lconostasis screen inside the sanctuary area.
Codex Sinaiticus
The Codex Sinaiticus is a 4th century manuscript of the New Testament. It is the oldest extant version of the Gospels and was originally housed here in Sinai at St Catherine's Monastery. There was much controversy over the manuscript when it was rediscovered in the Monastery by a scholar named Tischendorf. The monks claim he was lent the manuscript, honour bound to return it to them. It was never returned.
It was eventually bought after the first World War from Russia by the British Museum and can be seen there today on display.
St Helena, the mother of Constantine visited the site in the fourth century and the fourth century pilgrim diary of Egeria bears witness to the presence of an eremetical group tending the spot and welcoming pilgrims.
St Catherine's is the only monastery still active in the Sinai, and consists of a group of 10-15 Greek Orthodox monks who still welcome pilgrims today. The present buildings date from the sixth century when the Emperor Justinian offered his patronage. The main basilica was built by him with the magnificent apse mosaic depicting the transfiguration of Christ. (Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2)
"Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him."
The Crusading era brought a new wave of iconographic art. Icons of St George surrounded by the great crusading legends are on display alongside the early works from Egypt, Syria, Constantinople and Sinai.
The great walls were provided as a defence against, marauding tribes and still surround the Monastery today. Some restoration of the upper wall took place under the guidance of Napoleon who also offered his protection in 1798-1801.
The Monastery houses one of the most famous collections of Christian art and ancient manuscripts dating from as early as the fourth century AD through to the present day. The Codex Sinaiticus, now held in the British Museum, was originally part of St Catherine's collection.
Despite its isolation, the site of the Burning Bush has drawn pilgrims throughout the centuries. Traditionally a pilgrimage has incorporated an act of repentance and here in Sinai pilgrims would have had to say their confession before stepping onto the Holy Mountain. They would pass through the Gate of St Stephen and find a confessor waiting by the Byzantine steps leading up to the summit.
Today the mountain is open to all, but with the hermitages and small walled gardens dotted around the mountain, some of which remain in use, there is still something of the ancient reverence. The local tribe of Bedouin (converted from
Christianity to Islam in the seventh century) are the descendants of the original builders of the Monastery.
Eutychios, Patriarch of Alexandria, in an early written source states that the Emperor Justinian ordered 200 families from Pontus and Alexandria to work in the service of the monks. To this day the small mountain tribe cares for the Monastery and its surroundings.
The Legend of St Catherine
St Catherine of Alexandria lived in the early fourth century and was martyred by the Emperor Maximinus in 305 AD for refusing to denounce Christianity. To add to the Emperor's fury, when he sent his philosophers to argue with her they too returned converted to the Christian faith.
She is sometimes known as St Catherine of the Wheel due to the torture inflicted on her. She was finally beheaded. After her execution tradition claims her body vanished. According to the legend, the angels transported it to the peak of the highest mountain in Sinai, now called St Catherine's. About five centuries later, guided by a dream, monks of the monastery built by Justinian found her body, brought it down from the mountain and placed it in a golden casket in the church. Part of the remains were taken by Crusaders back to Europe, but what was left still stands in the casket behind the lconostasis screen inside the sanctuary area.
Codex Sinaiticus
The Codex Sinaiticus is a 4th century manuscript of the New Testament. It is the oldest extant version of the Gospels and was originally housed here in Sinai at St Catherine's Monastery. There was much controversy over the manuscript when it was rediscovered in the Monastery by a scholar named Tischendorf. The monks claim he was lent the manuscript, honour bound to return it to them. It was never returned.
It was eventually bought after the first World War from Russia by the British Museum and can be seen there today on display.
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