A great one-day (or more) adventure excursion from Egypt's Sharm-el-Sheikh coast is a jeep desert safari to Saint Catherine Monastery (Santa Caterina). This is a great adventure outdoors for the entire family and one that kids will especially enjoy and learn from, to boot!
Located at the foot of Jabel Musa (Mount Moses) in a spectacular natural setting on Mt. Sinai, Saint Catherine Monastery is a historic landmark not to be missed during an adventure travel holiday in Egypt. It was erected by the Emperor Justinian between 525-565 AD as a point of the defensive structure of the Byzantine Empire.
Saint Catherine has a rich history indeed. It was built in honor of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a Christian martyr who was beheaded. Traditionally, her body was carried away by angels to Mt. Sinai, where 500 years later, her remains were discovered on the peak that now bears her name. The monastery has been a center for religious pilgrimages for over 1500 years.
Built to protect the monks in the region, Saint Catherine is a formidable fortification with granite walls up to 35 m. in height, and is surrounded by gardens and cypresses. Up to the twentieth century, the only entrance to the monastery was a small door 30 ft. high, which lifted supplies by a system of pulleys.
Over its 14 hundred years, it has withstood numerous attacks and is to this day a working monastery. It is considered the oldest working Christian monastery and the smallest diocese in the world.
The monastery sits at the foot of the mount considered to be the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments and a chapel is built on what is traditionally considered the site of the Burning Bush.
Within its impregnable walls, rests a sanctuary like no other, incredibly rich in important religious and historical compositions. Second only to the Vatican, the monastery houses over 4500 manuscripts in several languages including Greek, Coptic, Arabic, Armenian and Hebrew - one of the largest and most important volumes in the world.
Beyond the manuscripts, it is also the setting for priceless works of art, including, among others, a wonderful Byzantine mosaic dating back to the 6th century, Russian and Greek icons, and western oil paintings, including one donated by Catherine of Russia in the 17th century and another by Czar Alexander in the 19th century.
What makes Saint Catherine so special however, is its natural setting. The awesome work of nature on Mt. Sinai is without equal. Reaching a height of nearly 7500 ft, nothing beats watching the breathtakingly majestic sunsets and sunrises here, befitting the work of an Almighty power. The monastery, in its entire splendor and its glorious setting is a sparkling example of a precious gem yet to be discovered by visitors.
Located at the foot of Jabel Musa (Mount Moses) in a spectacular natural setting on Mt. Sinai, Saint Catherine Monastery is a historic landmark not to be missed during an adventure travel holiday in Egypt. It was erected by the Emperor Justinian between 525-565 AD as a point of the defensive structure of the Byzantine Empire.
Saint Catherine has a rich history indeed. It was built in honor of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a Christian martyr who was beheaded. Traditionally, her body was carried away by angels to Mt. Sinai, where 500 years later, her remains were discovered on the peak that now bears her name. The monastery has been a center for religious pilgrimages for over 1500 years.
Built to protect the monks in the region, Saint Catherine is a formidable fortification with granite walls up to 35 m. in height, and is surrounded by gardens and cypresses. Up to the twentieth century, the only entrance to the monastery was a small door 30 ft. high, which lifted supplies by a system of pulleys.
Over its 14 hundred years, it has withstood numerous attacks and is to this day a working monastery. It is considered the oldest working Christian monastery and the smallest diocese in the world.
The monastery sits at the foot of the mount considered to be the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments and a chapel is built on what is traditionally considered the site of the Burning Bush.
Within its impregnable walls, rests a sanctuary like no other, incredibly rich in important religious and historical compositions. Second only to the Vatican, the monastery houses over 4500 manuscripts in several languages including Greek, Coptic, Arabic, Armenian and Hebrew - one of the largest and most important volumes in the world.
Beyond the manuscripts, it is also the setting for priceless works of art, including, among others, a wonderful Byzantine mosaic dating back to the 6th century, Russian and Greek icons, and western oil paintings, including one donated by Catherine of Russia in the 17th century and another by Czar Alexander in the 19th century.
What makes Saint Catherine so special however, is its natural setting. The awesome work of nature on Mt. Sinai is without equal. Reaching a height of nearly 7500 ft, nothing beats watching the breathtakingly majestic sunsets and sunrises here, befitting the work of an Almighty power. The monastery, in its entire splendor and its glorious setting is a sparkling example of a precious gem yet to be discovered by visitors.
By : Sylvia_Arad
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