If you are planning to visit Egypt's major sights, you should definitely not forget to visit St. Catherine's Monastery and its surroundings. It is a truly magical place, brimming with the atmosphere of ancient biblical stories, and every wall of the monastery hides a piece of history.
If you visit the monastery, it would be a shame not to complement your visit with the magnificent climb Mount Moses. It is in places like these that history is within reach and you will remember your trip for the rest of your life.
If you wanted to visit all the places associated with the origins of Christianity, it would probably take you a long time. That's why we usually only seek out the most significant and interesting ones.
The monastery at the foot of Mount Moses is undoubtedly one of such places. It is located on the Sinai Peninsula near the town of Saint Catherine and is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world And since it is located near Mount Moses, where according to the Bible, the Lord appeared to Moses, you will visit two iconic places at once.
According to the Book of Exodus, Moses saw the legendary burning bush on the site of today's monastery. In the flames of the bush, which burned but was not consumed, God appeared to him and commanded him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Finally, he revealed his true name to him. "I am who I am".
A little further on, you will find the biblical Mount Moses, also known as Mount Sinai. It was there that God revealed the Ten Commandments to Moses.
A monastery was built in the 6th century on the site where Moses saw the burning bush. In addition to being one of the oldest monasteries still in operation, it also has one of the longest-running libraries. The library also has the second largest collection of early Christian manuscripts after the Vatican. However, most of the writings are inaccessible to the general public. The library houses one of the most important manuscripts, the so-called Sinai Codex.
The Sinai Codex dates back to the 4th century and contains a large part of the Old Testament and almost the entire New Testament.
The monastery is dedicated to Saint Catherine According to legend, she was an Egyptian princess who decided to become a Christian. However, during the persecution of Christians, she did not have it easy at all, so she had to defend her faith fiercely and ultimately pay the highest price for it. Her zeal and determination in defending her truth pleased the emperor, who offered her marriage. However, Catherine refused, and so the disappointed emperor decided to have her executed.
The first attempt to kill her failed. God answered her prayers and destroyed the wheel that was supposed to crush her body. In the end, Emperor Maxentius decided to execute Catherine by beheading. No rescue from a higher power came. According to legend, angels then carried her remains to Mount Sinai (Moses' mountain).
Around the year 800, monks from a local monastery found her remains and dedicated the monastery to her name in the 11th century.
Inside the monastery, you can see the "burning" bush with your own eyes. Although it is no longer burning, many people will confirm that it is the very same bush that Moses himself saw hundreds of years ago. However, it is only a replica of the real bush, because a chapel now stands on the site of the original. The place is very important not only for Christians, but also for all Jews and Muslims. For this reason, the monastery has become a very popular pilgrimage site.
Don't be surprised to find a mosque in the complex. It was built in the past for one of the Bedouin workers and for all Muslim pilgrims. The monastery is open to everyone.
The entire monastery complex is surrounded by a high, strong wall If this surprises you, we have a simple explanation. Since the monastery was located in a relatively isolated place, it was fortified over the years to protect the local monks from attacks by raiders who often roamed the area around the monastery.
The monastery is run by community of Greek Orthodox monks Currently, about twenty monks live in the monastery.
Please note that a large part of the monastery is closed to tourists. However, you can see three-nave Basilica of the Transfiguration It was built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century.
There you can see a collection of icons on wooden panels. The collection is interesting in that it has survived to the present day, having had to endure the period of iconoclasm, when religious images were destroyed on a large scale and a huge number of works of art were destroyed. Despite all the problems, the monastery has a collection of almost 2,000 icons The oldest icon dates back to the 5th century.
Probably the most interesting place in the entire basilica is Chapel of the Burning Bush, which is unfortunately closed to the public. In any case, the location of the chapel should be the exact spot where God spoke to Moses from the burning bush.
In addition to the basilica, you can also visit the local ossuary. As the name suggests, it is full of bones and skulls. Most of the remains belong to monks who lived here over the years. It is a rather morbid sight, which is more suited to those with a strong stomach.
You will definitely enjoy a trip to the Sinai Mountains, as you will have the opportunity to see several interesting sights in one place. In addition to the monastery itself, you can also visit nearby Mount Moses or see the highest mountain in Egypt, Mount Saint Catherine.
If a walk around the small monastery complex and its surroundings is not enough for you, you can climb to the top of Mount Moses. There are two paths leading to the summit, one relatively easy but long, called Siket El Bashait. Or the journey Siket Sayidna Musa (Moses Trail), which is shorter but more demanding. To complete it, you will have to climb almost 4,000 jagged steps, which have been noticeably affected by the ravages of time.
The paths are steep and narrow, so you will need to watch your step while avoiding descending tourists and the ubiquitous camels. In addition to their presence, you will also notice the camels by their very specific smell, which not everyone can tolerate.
The trail is long and extremely dusty, so consider whether you will have enough strength to climb in high temperatures. Be sure to bring plenty of water. Reaching the summit is worth all the effort.
Moses Mountain offers beautiful scenery with a magical atmosphere, especially at sunrise and sunset. So these options are definitely worth considering, but you have to be prepared for a more demanding night climb or overnight stay in the cool Egyptian mountains. The height of the mountain is 2,285 meters and is adjacent to Egypt's highest mountain, Mount Saint Catherine (2,642 m).
If you are interested and have enough time and energy, you can supplement your visit to the monastery and Mount Moses with a climb to the highest mountain in Egypt.
Whether you are religious or not, a visit to St. Catherine's Monastery and Mount Moses is definitely worthwhile. When you look at the monastery complex, you will be amazed at how long the monastery has been protecting its secrets and how many stories must have taken place here over the years. The monastery will truly transport you back in time. A monastery complex in the middle of the sea, sand, and mountains, which preserves rare manuscripts and works of art, is simply something unheard of.
If you combine your trip with a climb up Mount Moses, you will likely follow the same path that Moses once took to reach the mountain, which can be a powerful experience for believers. Even if you are not a believer, you will definitely you will feel the magical atmosphere of the place at sunrise or sunset on the summit of Egypt's second highest mountain. You will all be enchanted by the beauty of the Egyptian mountains and the magnificent natural scenery. There is something for everyone on this trip, and we can guarantee that you will remember it for a long time to come.
