On February 24, 2000, Pope John Paul II knelt before a stone wall at the foot of Mount Sinai and prayed. Behind the wall grew a green bush—not burning, not consumed, but alive after millennia. The aged pontiff, on his Jubilee Year pilgrimage to trace the geography of salvation, had come to the place where Moses heard God speak from the flames and received the commission that would change human history: "I AM WHO I AM." It was, the Pope told pilgrims afterward, the high point of an extraordinary experience—to stand where heaven had spoken to earth and the covenant between God and humanity was sealed.
Saint Catherine's Monastery has stood at this spot since Emperor Justinian I ordered its construction in the sixth century, though Christian hermits had been praying in these granite canyons since the third century. Today it is the oldest continuously functioning monastic community in the world, its fortress walls sheltering the Chapel of the Burning Bush, the relics of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the world's finest collection of Byzantine icons, and a library of ancient manuscripts that has preserved texts lost everywhere else on earth. Above the monastery, Mount Sinai rises 2,285 meters into the desert sky—the mountain where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, the mountain that three faiths revere as holy ground.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The spiritual history of this place begins with the Book of Exodus. When Moses fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian taskmaster, he came to the wilderness of Sinai, where he tended the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro near a well that still exists within the monastery grounds. At the base of the mountain, he encountered the bush that "burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed" (Exodus 3:2)—the theophany through which God revealed His name and commanded Moses to liberate the Israelites from slavery.
Christian monks began settling in the Sinai Peninsula as early as the third century, drawn by the biblical associations and the isolation of the desert. Emperor Justinian I built the fortified monastery between 527 and 565 AD, constructing massive granite walls to protect the monks from Bedouin raiders. The monastery's church, the Basilica of the Transfiguration, contains a 6th-century apse mosaic of the Transfiguration of Christ that ranks among the masterpieces of Byzantine art.
The monastery's association with Saint Catherine of Alexandria dates to the ninth century, when monks discovered relics on a peak near the summit that tradition identified as her remains. Catherine, a noblewoman of exceptional learning martyred around 305 AD under Emperor Maxentius, had—according to legend—been carried by angels from Alexandria to Mount Sinai. Her relics, preserved in a marble sarcophagus within the basilica, continue to draw pilgrims from all Christian traditions.
Pope John Paul II's pilgrimage in February 2000 marked the first papal visit to this sacred site, underscoring its significance for Catholic as well as Orthodox spirituality.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Saint Catherine
Saint Catherine's Monastery
دير سانت كاترين (Dayr Sant Katarin)
Built between 527 and 565 AD by Emperor Justinian I on the site where Empress Helena constructed a chapel in the fourth century. The monastery houses the world's oldest continuously operating library, containing priceless manuscripts including pages of the Codex Sinaiticus. It preserves the relics of Saint Catherine of Alexandria in a marble sarcophagus and maintains the Chapel of the Burning Bush, built around the roots of the original bush that Moses encountered.
Pilgrims can venerate the relics of Saint Catherine, pray at the Chapel of the Burning Bush, admire the world's largest collection of Byzantine icons—including sixth-century encaustic panels—and visit the Basilica of the Transfiguration with its celebrated apse mosaic. The monastery observes Orthodox liturgical customs; modest dress is required and photography is restricted in certain areas.
Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa)
جبل موسى (Jebel Musa)
The traditional site where Moses received the Ten Commandments rises 2,285 meters above sea level. Pilgrims traditionally begin the climb around 2:00 AM to reach the summit for sunrise, following the Steps of Repentance—3,750 stone steps carved by monks over centuries. At the summit, a small chapel marks the place of God's revelation. The ascent takes 2–3 hours and offers a profoundly physical dimension to the pilgrimage, as the exertion of the climb becomes a form of prayer.
The alternative Camel Path is less steep but longer (approximately 7 km). Both routes converge at Elijah's Basin, where the prophet is said to have hidden from Queen Jezebel. Bring warm clothing (temperatures drop sharply at altitude), water, and a flashlight for the pre-dawn ascent.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria — November 25
Major celebration at the monastery with special liturgies and veneration of her relics. Pilgrims gather for processions and prayer services honoring the patron saint. The Orthodox monks celebrate according to the Julian calendar, so the date may differ from the Western observance.
Feast of the Transfiguration — August 6
Commemorated at the monastery's main basilica with special services celebrating Christ's divine revelation on Mount Tabor, connecting the Sinai tradition of divine theophany with the New Testament revelation of Christ's glory.
🛏️ Where to Stay
St. Catherine's Monastery Guesthouse (pilgrim accommodation) — Located just below the monastery, offering single or double rooms with private facilities. Cost includes dinner and breakfast. Ideal for pilgrims wanting proximity to the monastery for early morning prayers. Website
Sheikh Mousa Bedouin Camp ⭐⭐⭐ — Authentic Bedouin accommodation offering traditional tent stays and cultural experiences. The camp organizes guided tours to Mount Sinai and provides insights into local Bedouin hospitality. Website ∙ Reserve
Morgenland Holly Village ⭐⭐⭐ — Comfortable hotel accommodation with mountain views, offering basic amenities for pilgrims. Conveniently located for access to both the monastery and Mount Sinai trailheads. Reserve
Fox Camp (Moses Lodge) ⭐⭐⭐ — Family-friendly guesthouse featuring garden and mountain views, with outdoor dining areas. Comfortable accommodation for pilgrims seeking a peaceful retreat experience. Reserve
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport (SSH) is the nearest major airport, approximately 220 km (2.5–3 hours by road) from Saint Catherine. International flights connect through Cairo and major European hubs. From the airport, organized tours, private taxis, and shuttle services provide transport.
By Car: From Cairo (approximately 460 km, 6–7 hours), take the Suez road to the Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel under the Suez Canal, then follow the coastal road south along the Gulf of Suez before turning inland toward Saint Catherine. From Sharm El-Sheikh (220 km, 2.5–3 hours), take the inland road through the Sinai interior.
📚 Further Reading
Saint John Climacus. The Ladder of Divine Ascent — Spiritual classic written by a 7th-century abbot of Sinai, describing the monk's ascent toward God through thirty steps of virtue.
The Burning Bush: Writings on Sinai — Spiritual reflections on the Sinai experience and its significance for Christian prayer and contemplation.
🎥 Recommended Videos
Saint Catherine's Monastery — Sinai, Egypt — Comprehensive video tour of the monastery and its treasures.
Inside St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai — Documentary exploration of monastic life and history.
St. Catherine's Monastery with Fr. Justin Sinaites — Interview with a monastic scholar about Sinai's significance.
🔗 Useful Links
Saint Catherine's Monastery — Official monastery website.
UNESCO World Heritage — Saint Catherine Area — Heritage site documentation.
Egypt Tourism Authority — National tourism information.
Monasteries.com — Monastery guesthouse booking platform.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Jerusalem (400 km northeast) — The holiest city in Christianity, containing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Christ was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. The Via Dolorosa, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, and Cenacle (Upper Room) make Jerusalem the supreme pilgrimage destination of the Christian world.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"With great joy I was able to go on pilgrimage to Egypt in the footsteps of Moses. The high point of this extraordinary experience occurred at the foot of Mount Sinai, the Holy Mountain." — Pope John Paul II, General Audience, March 1, 2000
