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[[Image:Sinai Monastery.jpg|right|thumb|300px|St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai, Egypt]]
'''[[Catherine_of_Alexandria|St. Catherine]]'s Monastery''' is a [[monastery]] on the Sinai peninsula, at the foot of [[Mount Moses]] (Mount el-Deir), also [[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'''''. It is sometimes also known as the '''''Monastery of the Burning Bush'''''. It is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world.
==History==
Originally founded by the Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]] in 527, the monastery has weathered numerous changes in the history of the region, including the invasion of [[Islam]], whose founder Mohammed himself guaranteed protection for the monastery. (The monastery still has possession of a written document from Mohammed to prove it.)
[[Image:Pantokrator of Sinai.jpg|left|frame|The [[PantokratorPantocrator]] of Sinai (7th c.)]]
In the 9th century, the site was associated with St. [[Catherine of Alexandria]] (whose [[relics]] were miraculously transported there) and it became a favourite site for [[pilgrimage]]s. Numerous ancient manuscripts have been preserved in the library, which is second only to the manuscript library of the Vatican. The collection consists of some 3,500 volumes in Greek, Coptic, Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew, Slavic, Syriac, Georgian and other languages.
The monastic church dates from the reign of St. [[Justinian]]. Its architect, Stephen of Aila, built a three-aisled, wood-roofed, basalt [[basilica]], with carved capitals on the nave columns which are derived from the Corinthian order. The variation in the capitals there seem to be a deliberate choice, rather than the result of using columns from other buildings (which can be seen in other structures). The basilica has five side chapels, and towers flank the west end of the church. The sacred [[Burning Bush|bush]] is left growing in the open beyond the east end of the building.
The monastery church has seen little essential change since the time of its imperial founder. Its great western portal is still closed by the original 1400 year old wooden door, which still functions perfectly on its first pins and hinges. The wood roof of the [[nave]], also of 6th century construction, rests on beams that bear inscriptions honoring Justinian and his famous wife [[Theodora (wife of Justinian)|Theodora]]. These inscriptions had been reported by travelers as far back as the 18th century, but not until a 1958 expedition was a careful study made of them in relation to the church structure. The inscriptions mention "our most pious Emperor" Justinian and his "late Empress" Theodora. Theodora died in 548 and Justinian in 565, so that the church was completed between those years.
There are the remnants of a 10th or 11th century Fatimid mosque within the walls of the monastery, probably built to appease Muslim authorities of the time. Recent excavations within the mosque's walls have yielded evidence that the building predates its use as a mosque, however, as architectural and ornamental crosses and other Christian symbols have been found within.
There is also a small [[chapel ]] called the Chapel of St. Tryphon which serves as an ossuary for the skulls of deceased monastics.
==The Church of Sinai==
The monastery, the nearby monastery at Raithu, and a handful of dependencies comprise constitute the entire [[Church of Sinai]], an [[autonomy|autonomous]] Orthodox church headed by an [[archbishop]], who is also the [[abbot]] of St. Catherine's. The archbishop is traditionally consecrated by the Patriarch of the [[Church of Jerusalem]], though he is not the patriarch's subject.
==The Burning Bush==
[[Egeria]], a 4th century pilgrim from Spain, had this to say about the site:
:"We had to advance deep into the valley for there are many hermit cells [[cell]]s and a [[shrine ]] at the site of the Bush. The Bush is verdant to this day. This is the Bush of which I have spoken earlier, the one from which God in a flame of fire spoke to Moses. The Bush is in a very beautiful garden in front of the Church." (see ''Egeria's Travels'', ed. John Wilkinson (ISBN 0856687103)
The Chapel of the Burning Bush honors the Annunciation to the Holy Virgin. This is conveyed by "the Virgin of the Burning Bush," an icon that represents the Mother of God seated within the Burning Bush and holding her Son, with Moses worshiping barefooted on the left. A mosaic cross of the 10th century decorates the apse of the chapel.
Pilgrims enter the chapel without shoes, in remembrance of the commandment of God to Moses, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."
== Basilica of Transfiguration and liturgy ==
The Basilica of Holy Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the biggest worship facility of this monastery and thus the center of its monastic life, where the liturgy is observed mainly. As built in the order of Emperor St. [[Justinian]], the wooden doors of the sanctuary are called "Justinian
Doors". Its apse is decorated with a huge mosaic of icon that represents [[Jesus Christ]] in his glorious [[transfiguration]], accompanied by two prophets and three disciples. On its [[iconostasis]], the royal door is not the place of the [[annunciation]] and it lacks four evangelists' representation either. Instead they accompany with the [[Theotokos]] on the left side of the door. The iconostasis includes also icons of martyrs, St. [[John the Forerunner]] with his beheaded head and St. [[Catherine of Alexandria]] attributed with a wheel whose relics are venerated within this basilica.
Pilgrims may join the liturgy, specially from 6 a.m., 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The [[Divine Liturgy]] is held from 6 a.m. The language of liturgy is Greek.
==Sources==
*[http://www.ccel.org/m/mcclure/etheria/etheria.htm Complete online text of Egeria's Travels]
*[http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/africa/eg/sainteCatherine/facingHill.html Panographies]
*[http://www.mountsinaimonastery.org Friends of Mount Sinai Monastery]
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[[Category:Monasteries|Catherine]] [[ro:Mănăstirea Sfânta Ecaterina (Sinai, Egipt)]]
