St. Catherine's Monastery (Sinai)
St. Catherine's Monastery is a monastery on the Sinai peninsula, at the foot of Mount Sinai, in Egypt. It was built at the site where Moses is believed to have seen the Burning Bush, which is alive and on the grounds. Though it is commonly known as Saint Catherine's, the actual name of the monastery is the Monastery of the Transfiguration.
In the 15th century, the site was associated with St. Catherine of Alexandria (whose relics were miraculously transported there) and it became a favourite site for pilgrimages. Numerous ancient manuscripts have been preserved in the library. A number of ancient icons are also on the grounds, including the famous Pantokrator of Sinai, pictured at left.
The monastery also comprises the entire Church of Sinai, an autonomous Orthodox church headed by an archbishop, who is also the abbot of the monastery. The archbishop is traditionally consecrated by the Church of Jerusalem.
