MOUNTAIN OF MOSES

Mount Sinai and St. Catherine’s Monastery

Travel at night to Mount Sinai to climb and witness the sunrise from the summit of Moses’ Mountain.

Mount Sinai is not only a sacred place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God, but it is also one of the highest mountains in Egypt, standing at 2,285 meters.

Watching the sunrise from its peak is one of the most beautiful sights in the world.

The climb takes about 3 hours, during which you will ascend approximately 1,800 steps to reach the summit. After watching the sunrise and taking a rest, we will descend to visit one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world – St. Catherine’s Monastery.

According to tradition, it is located around the site of the Burning Bush.

The monastery is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is believed that the monastery was originally built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the early 6th century.

The peak above the monastery is actually the biblical Mount Sinai.

This site is the oldest Christian Orthodox monastery. Significant events for three religions took place here.

Moses heard God’s voice coming from the Burning Bush, declaring His name: Yahweh (I am who I am).

On Mount Sinai, Moses received the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments.

In this area, the Israelites strayed from their faith and worshipped the Golden Calf.

Pilgrims come to Sinai to receive the blessing of this holy place, following in the footsteps of those who have been coming here for over 1,700 years.

According to church tradition, St. Catherine of Alexandria (the monastery’s patron) was born in 287 AD as the daughter of the governor of Alexandria.

As a young girl, she became a Christian and dedicated herself to converting others to her faith.

She publicly criticized Emperor Maxentius’s persecution of Christians.

After debating with 50 non-Christian sages and converting some of them, she was sentenced to death by breaking on the wheel.

After an angel destroyed the torture instrument, the emperor changed her execution method to beheading. She died at the age of 18.

St. Catherine’s heroic faith was later invoked by St. Joan of Arc nearly a thousand years later. St. Catherine of Alexandria is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

Around 800 AD, monks found St. Catherine’s remains at the monastery.

About a thousand pilgrims visit this site every year.

The monastery houses many valuable icons and ancient manuscripts.