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In the middle of
the majestic loneliness of the Sinai mountains, stands one of the greatest
monuments of human culture - Saint Catherine’s Monastery and Mount
Sinai. Saint Catherine's and Mount Sinai lie in the
heart of Sinai, approximately 200km from Dahab on the eastern coast
and 300km from the Suez Canal on the upper western coast.
The Saint Catherine's area holds great relevance and marks a symbol
of peace and unification between all faiths. All three of the
West's great religious traditions - Islam, Christianity & Judaism
know the Sinai as the Holy Land, a vast expanse traversed time and time
again by prophets, saints, pilgrims and warriors. Sinai is most
familiar to many as the great and terrible wilderness, marking the route
in which the Exodus wandered for forty years.
Saint Catherine's
monastery was built approximately 1400 years ago by Emperor Justinian,
encompassing the great church built by St. Helena, the mother of St.Constantine
in 330 AD. Saint Catherine was born in Alexandria in 294 AD, and
educated in a pagan school. Born to a wealthy family, she rejected their
ways and was taught of Jesus Christ by a Syrian monk, and she converted
to the Christian faith.
Later in the 4th century, during the persecution of the Christians,
she held her faith and confessed her beliefs. Many wise men tried
to dissuade her, but she, on the contrary, persuaded them to believe
in Jesus. Under torture, she again managed to persuade members
of the Emperors family and members of the Roman aristocracy to convert
to the Christian faith.
After her execution, her body varnished, and according to tradition,
angels transported it to the peaks of the highest Mountain in Sinai,
which now bears her name. This tradition is supported by the fact
that monks from the monastery were guided by a dream 3 centuries later
to the peak of Saint Catherine’s Mount where they found her body.
Saint Catherine's martyrdom was carried to Europe by the Crusaders,
and she became accepted as a major saint.
Saint Catherine's
Monastery is open to the public to this day, and governed by Greek Orthodox
monks, it continues to be an attraction for people of all faiths
and cultures.
Mount Sinai, Mount Moses, or as the monks call it 'The Holy Peak', stands 2500m above sea level, the summit a 2-3 hour walk from The Monastery at its foot. According to Christian tradition, this is the biblical Mount Horeb where Moses received the Tablets of the Law within the Ten Commandments.
There are two ways to traverse Mount Sinai. One involves climbing the 3750 steps, built with rock by pious monks: this is a short but difficult ascent. The other, easier way, carved by the Egyptian Authorities in the 19th Century, is an indirect route which can be traversed either by foot or on camels or donkeys.
On the top of Mount Sinai is a chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It was built in 1934 with the materials of an earlier church, erected in 532 by Justinian and repeatedly destroyed. To the north of the chapel is a cave where tradition holds that God put Moses.
Climbing Mount Sinai
is an unforgettable endeavour. To witness the sun rising from
the summit, the highest point in Sinai, is an experience not to be missed.
The protectorate
at St Catherine's is a division of the National Parks of Egypt and has
been set up to work towards the preservation and conservation of the
legendary St Catherine's area.
Established in 1995, the Protectorate has grown from strength to strength
through the supreme and admirable effort of its coordinators, and has
gained due respect and acceptance from the local St Catherine's community.
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Saint Catherine's
Protectorate for their inspiring and continued work within Sinai.
Embah offer a wide
variety of Safaris and Day Trips incorporating Saint Catherine’s
Monastery, Mount Sinai and the surrounding area. Whether it be High
Range Trekking across these soaring mountains, or as part of a Pilgrim
Tour, we attach emphasis on the value of experiencing Saint Catherine’s,
to present you with a complete insight into Sinai and it’s historic
identification.
We also offer an alternative to the usual route taken by hundreds everyday.
The equally beautiful yet much less visited Wadi Arabain is a stunning alternative to the Camel Path or the Stairs of Repentance. Passing through lovely mountain gardens and eventually being rewarded with a glass of sweet tea from the local Bedouin family that live there, this trek is a must for anyone wishing to visit Mount Sinai and avoid the crowds.
See our Petra & St Katherine's Sightseeing Tour, which combines ancient natural wonders with the ancient archaelogical wonder of Petra.
Alternatively, please contact us through info@embah.com for a tailor made itinerary to suit your needs.
Back To Embah Mountain
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