Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai: The Treasury of Byzantium

Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai is one of the oldest Christian monasteries, which still retains its autonomy from any authorities. Thanks to its independence, the monks living there have managed to preserve ancient works of Christian art, which in the course of history have not remained anywhere else.

Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai: The Treasury of Byzantium

The first monks began to come to the Sinai Peninsula already in the first centuries AD, which was, according to historians, around the time of the persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Sinai was isolated from the south by a massive mountain range, while there was access to river water, which gave the ascetics the opportunity to live without excessive worries about the outside world. Moreover, it was there that a number of the most important events of the Old Testament history took place. The most famous of them is the conversation of the prophet Moses with the Lord who appeared to him with His voice from the unburnt bush, after which the prophet received the tablets of the covenant. According to local legend, Saint Catherine’s Monastery was first fortified by the order of Empress Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, who was famous for active Christian construction in holy places. The monastery, however, became a real fortress in the middle of the 6th century under Emperor Justinian. The modern walls and the main temple of the monastery, the Basilica of the Transfiguration of the Lord, were repeatedly repaired but mostly retained their original appearance. At the same time, mosaics of amazing quality and state of preservation were made in the basilica; they were contemporaries of the unpreserved original decoration of Sophia of Constantinople.

Transfiguration. Mosaic in the altar apse. Circa 565-566.
Monastery of Saint Catherine, Sinai, Egypt.

However, the territories of Sinai did not remain part of the Byzantine Empire for long. During active conquering wars in the 30s of the 7th century, they became part of the young Arab Caliphate. Christians had the opportunity to preserve their religion on condition of absolute loyalty to the caliphs, as well as timely payment of the per capita tax, from which the monks were exempted. At the same time, in the 17th century, there was a legend according to which in 624, the Sinai elders received a charter from Muhammad, which guaranteed them inviolability of property and freedom from taxes. In any case, Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Sinai, the keeper of incredibly revered relics, associated with unique in their sacredness places, has always received precious contributions and gifts from different Orthodox states, including icons by the best icon painters, books, and jewelry pieces. And all this has been kept inviolate within its walls for centuries.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. Byzantium, Constantinople. The end of the 10th—the beginning of the 11th century. Stored in the narthex of the Basilica of Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai.