By Mohamed El-Hebeishy AMIDST the mountains in the heart of divinity it is believed to be one of the oldest continuously functioning monasteries in the world, Mohamed El-Hebeishy sets out to establish the facts. Located at the foot of Mount Sinai, where it is said that Moses received the Ten Commandments, the Monastery of St Catherine was built to the order of Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I in 527 AD, with construction coming to completion 38 years later. Though it is known as the Monastery of St Catherine, the original name was the Monastery of Transfiguration. The site is associated at large with St Catherine of Alexandria, who at the age of 18 is said to have attempted to persuade the pagan Roman emperor at the time to halt the Christian persecution; she only succeeded in converting his wife. St Catherine was condemned to death; 25 November marks her feast. One of the main gems the monastery engulfs is the Burning Bush. While Moses was tending Jethro's flock of sheep, he approached a bush. Though on fire it was not being consumed. It is believed that this is when God spoke to Moses. Round the monastery and on the trail leading to the peak of Mount Sinai, various archaeological and sacred sites can be visited, among which are Aaron's Shrine, the Shrive Gate and Elijah's Chapel. Declared in 2002 as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the monastery houses a priceless collection of mosaics, Greek and Russian icons as well as encaustic paintings. In addition, there is also works of art represented in sacerdotal ornaments, chalices and reliquaries. The Monastery of St Catherine preserves a rare collection of early codices and manuscripts, outnumbered only by the Vatican.
