Katarinaklostret vid Sinaiberget - där moses mottog budorden

St Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai in Egypt is a truly ancient monastery with a wealth of religious history. It includes the burning bush and the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.

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St Catherine's Monastery at Mount Sinai in Egypt

Located at the foot of Mount Sinai on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, St Catherine's Monastery is named after St Catherine of Alexandria. The monastery, along with its surroundings, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Moses, is a mountain range in the southern Sinai Peninsula. It includes the peaks of Jebel Misa at 2285 metres above sea level and Jebel Katharin at 2880 metres above sea level. According to Christian and Jewish tradition, it was here that Moses received the Ten Commandments of God, which were written on stone tablets. At the foot of the mountain is the Katharin Monastery.

Day trip from Sharm el Sheikh

We made a day trip to the Katarina Monastery from Sharm el Sheikh, organised by 1001 Natt Resor. The tour started at six in the morning and three hours later we arrived at the monastery. During the same tour we also visited the beautiful and bohemian coastal town of Sharm el Sheikh. Dahabas we told you about earlier. Several hours through beautiful desert landscape!

READ MORE: Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt - 13 things to do

Visiting the Katarina Monastery

St Catherine's Monastery is at an altitude of over 1500 metres above sea level, and we had been warned that it could be 'a bit chilly'. To be on the safe side, we each had a thin jacket with us, but it was needed. definitely not in the 30-degree sweltering heat. In winter, however, it can certainly be cool here. You will also find many shops and vendors here, selling everything from guidebooks to jewellery.

We were far from alone at the entrance to the monastery. People of all nationalities come here, including Ukrainians, Indonesians and Africans of all kinds, but of course also many Western Europeans.

Turister vid Katarinaklostret vid Sinaiberget

Catherine's Monastery - founded in 337.

According to legend, the monastery was founded in 337 by Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. The monastery building you see today was built by Justinian I on the site of the 'burning bush' and was completed in 565. The monastery was completed in 565. Many valuable icons and manuscripts, such as the Codex Sinaiticus, can be found in this old monastery today.

St Catherine died a martyr's death

The monastery at Mount Sinai was named after St Catherine, only a few hundred years after its completion. Catherine is known, among other things, for converting a group of fifty philosophers to Christianity.

They were later martyred for their choice, and Catherine was also sentenced to death by the Emperor. She was initially going to be executed in a cruel way by so-called 'council execution', but the wheel was miraculously broken.

Catherine was instead beheaded and prayed at the moment of death that her body would never be found. In response to her prayer, according to legend, angels then took her body to Mount Sinai. Several hundred years later, Egyptian Christians found the remains of a body at the mountain, and the dust has been revered as sacred ever since.

The vertiginous gate of St Catherine's Abbey

The walls of St. Catherine's Monastery are 2.5 metres thick and fifteen metres high, and in the past, for security reasons, visitors were hoisted to the entrance, an aerial journey of about nine metres. Today, fortunately, you can walk in via a regular entrance.

READ MORE: Things to do in Hurghada - 17 tips for activities and excursions

Leave a wish in Catherine's Monastery

Unfortunately, photography is not allowed unnecessarily church, but we can tell you that you can feel the history inside. You can also make a wish and leave it in the church. If you are not a member of the Orthodox Church, you can submit your wish along with a small amount of money. There is also a small museum in the area, including icons, which can be visited for an additional fee.

The burning bush

At the foot of Mount Sinai, God appeared to Moses through a burning bush and called him to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. The Exodus from Egypt is when the Israelites, under the leadership of Moses and Aaron, marched out of Egypt and towards the land of Canaan, which today forms the basis of the celebration of the Jewish Easter.

Moses well

At the monastery you can also check out Moses' well, which was built by Napoleon during the time when the French army was trying to take over and develop Egypt. The advantage of the well, of course, was that water could be accessed from inside the monastery.

Moses brunn — Our guide shows how the well works

A Christian monastery in a Muslim world

Christianity and Islam have lived side by side for a long time in this region, and although there have sometimes been threats, there has been much more of a consensus. According to legend, the Prophet Muhammad visited Catherine's Monastery before the Arab conquest of Egypt in 640, and medieval documents show that an agreement was made so that the Christian monks would be safe under Muslim rule. Incidentally, our guide (a Muslim from Saudi Arabia) knew the Bible a thousand times better than we did ...

Tips for a good trip to St Catherine's Abbey

It was a really interesting trip to the Katarina Monastery, but it was also quite a few hours in the car in one day. We can recommend this trip to those who are interested in religious history, or for those who spend a little more than a week in Sharm el Sheikh, so that it does not matter so much that you "lose" some hours of sunshine sitting in a car.

Hike up Mount Sinai - and see St Catherine's Monastery

Another option is to book a different tour, starting with a hike up Mount Sinai (at night!). The hike takes about 3 hours, and at the top you will be greeted by a stunning sunrise. For those who get tired, it is possible, at a small extra cost, to ride part of the distance on a camel. After climbing the mountain, you will visit the monastery.

18 Comments

Add yours →

Anette says:

Exciting and interesting to be in a place that is associated with so many historical events. Whatever you believe, it's really cool to have all these stories that we all know at least in part.

03 October 2019 - 6:23

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Agreed! We are not religious, but that doesn't matter. You've heard these stories all your life, so it's fascinating to visit these places!
  
  03 October 2019 - 6:54
  
Nils-Åke Hansson says:

This was interesting and even brings back memories from childhood. I was not allowed to have whatever books I wanted as a child Christian home. Had one in particular that was about this.
Great trip you are doing.

03 October 2019 - 8:19

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, an interesting journey! Especially when you recognise the stories well!
  
  03 October 2019 - 17:26
  
Maria Carlström says:

That's where I want to go.
So exciting with the region, monasteries and churches.
There is no fire without smoke.
Being where the stories started and following that success.
And know where the "smoke" story started.
????

03 October 2019 - 8:44

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Totally agree with you! The stories have certainly become "livelier" over time, but there is certainly a reason for them! Exciting! 🙂
  
  03 October 2019 - 17:26
  
Ladies Abroad says:

How nice! Will definitely keep it in mind when I return to Egypt someday.

03 October 2019 - 12:39

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Do it! We also want to see more in Egypt! There seems to be so much to see and discover! 🙂
  
  03 October 2019 - 17:27
  
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

What an interesting excursion! Whether you are religious or not, it is a very fascinating environment. If you have a good guide with you, it can be a real top day!

03 October 2019 - 13:53

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I agree, you don't have to be religious to find it interesting! You have heard the stories about Moses and Mount Sinai, fascinating to come here for real!
  
  03 October 2019 - 17:28
  
Geddfish says:

This would be a destination!
I have been to the desert, it was in Egypt with Cairo and Luxor and other excursions.
But this, wow! I love the wings of history. Hugs!

03 October 2019 - 20:51

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Isn't it interesting with history? We have also been to Luxor, but not to Cairo... would really like to travel there too!
  
  04 October 2019 - 7:50
  
Ditte says:

We were also here for a day and given that I was on a diving and snorkelling trip, it was good to have a break. A powerful experience to be here. Lovely pictures with a high recognition factor.

03 October 2019 - 21:47

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad that you have also been here! Good with a little break in diving and snorkelling, I can think! 😉
  
  04 October 2019 - 7:50
  
BP says:

Great pictures of the desert and the rock formations. Religion is not my strong point either... to me the monastery looks like a fortress, certainly not a monastery. A fantastic post!

PS. There is one thing you will have to explain to me. I can't get Peter's t-shirt to fit together. DS.

03 October 2019 - 23:00

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, it does look partly like a fortress! I think they needed protection during certain periods... Peter's t-shirt? Nah, I can't explain that one, haha. It is part of his (hopefully) temporary wardrobe of big clothes after his weight gain due to cortisone. The plan is to start exercising soon, let's see what happens... 😉.
  
  04 October 2019 - 7:52
  
Lena - gott för själen says:

Oh my goodness! Founded in 337. I can see how they felt the wings of history there!

Hug Lena

05 October 2019 - 20:58

Pier Lindberg says:

Wrong place! Jebel el lawz in Saudi Arabia is Mount Sinai where Moses received the commandments.

19 October 2019 - 16:34

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Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt - 13 things to do | FREEDOMtravel

Catherine's Monastery at Mount Sinai - where Moses received the commandments

St Catherine's Monastery at Mount Sinai in Egypt

Mount Sinai

Day trip from Sharm el Sheikh

Visiting the Katarina Monastery

Catherine's Monastery - founded in 337.

St Catherine died a martyr's death

The vertiginous gate of St Catherine's Abbey

Leave a wish in Catherine's Monastery

The burning bush

Moses well

A Christian monastery in a Muslim world

Tips for a good trip to St Catherine's Abbey

Hike up Mount Sinai - and see St Catherine's Monastery

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18 Comments

Anette says:

Helena says:

Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Helena says:

Maria Carlström says:

Helena says:

Ladies Abroad says:

Helena says:

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Helena says:

Geddfish says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Lena - gott för själen says:

Pier Lindberg says:

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