The Orthodox Monastery of St Catherine stands at the foot of Mount Horeb where, the Old Testament records, Moses received the Tablets of the Law. The mountain is known and revered by Muslims as Jebel Musa.
The monastery contains a Basilica, Chapel, Charnel House, Well, Library, Gallery and Mosque which are surrounded by a granite wall measuring 8 to 35 metres high. This wall defended it from numerous attacks in the 1,400 years it has been standing. It belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church and most of its monks are of Greek origin.
The entire area is sacred to three world religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The Monastery, founded in the 6th century, is the oldest Christian monastery still in use for its initial function.
The monastery has never been destroyed in all its history, and thus it can be said to have preserved intact the distinctive qualities of its Greek and Roman heritage. Members of other Christian confessions have honoured the monastery, coming as pilgrims to this holy place. But from its beginnings, the Christian inhabitants of Sinai belonged to the Greek speaking world, and it has remained so to this day.
The earliest description refers to the Monastery of the Holy Virgin, for the revelation of God at the Burning Bush was seen as a type of the Virgin Mary and the Incarnation. The monastery is also especially dedicated to the holy prophets Moses and Elias, who both came to this mountain, and who both spoke with Christ at the Transfiguration. More recently, it has been known as Saint Catherine’s Monastery. This remains its name today, though the monastery has not lost its earlier dedications.
The Holy Monastery of Sinai has been celebrated throughout the world for its spiritual and cultural radiance. It has been revered not only by Christians, but also by Moslems and Jews. It has recently been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, both for its cultural and for its scenic significance.
St. Catherine Tourist Village offers most of the necessary amenities and facilities for the guests to make their stay comfortable. The various facilities available at the hotel help the visitors to spend a wonderful vacation.
St. Catherine Tourist Village has a small bar, and Al Sefsafa Restaurant that serve good quality buffet meals for breakfast and dinner. The lovely pool of the hotel is the best place to relax after wandering around in the heat for the whole day.
Another unique spot to relax at St. Catherine Tourist Village are its tourist shops from where one can buy souvenirs. There is a small tent with pillows built within the Tourist Village where one can relax at the end of the day.