The St. Catherine's Monastery, Egypt

The St. Catherine's Monastery located on the Sinai Peninsula is also known as the Sinai monastery. That's a Christian landmark of world importance. It is located in an incredibly picturesque remote mountain area, at the foot of Mount Sinai, at an altitude of 1 570 meters above sea level. According to historical records, the monastery was founded in the 6th century by an order of Emperor Justinian. In 2002, the ancient monastery was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The monastery is an elaborated and very large architectural complex that includes the Basilica of the Transfiguration, the Chapel of the Burning Bush and a number of other important buildings, among which there are symbolic biblical objects. The Moses Well that is mentioned in the Bible is situated there. One of the main features of the ancient monastery is a garden. Here, in an incredibly arid climate, monks successfully grow fruit trees and olives. Visitors will have an opportunity to buy delicious olive oil.

Real religious treasures are hidden in the monastery of St. Catherine. The library, which was founded in the early 18th century, is of particular interest. There are priceless books and manuscripts, and many of them exist in a single copy. In addition, the monastery houses a unique collection of ancient icons that attracts pilgrims from all over the world. This monastery is one of the few, where you can see the icons dating back to 8-10 centuries AD. Next - Shrine of Sohag City