Tour Highlights: Saint Catherine Monastery
Duration: 1 Day Trip
Type: Private or sharing – Upon Request
Pick up: Sharm El Sheikh Port
Drop Off: Sharm El Shiekh or any other Egyptian port
Upon atrrival to Sharm Elsheikh port you will find your tour guide waiting for you with a sign of your name to lead you by your air-conditioned car heading Saint Catherine area which is approx 3 hours from the port.
Saint Catherine Monastery is considered the earliest surviving bastion of Christianity which was founded by the Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora between 527-535 A.D. at the foot of Mount Sinai and Jebel Megafa , discover a centre of worship and learning for over 1450 years. St Catherine was born Dorothea to a noble family in Alexandria in AD 294, and she was studied poetry, music, art, physics, mathematics, astronomy and philosophy at a pagan school, it was before converting to Christianity and taking the name of Catherine at baptism. She was tortured and beheaded for her faith by Emperor Maximus on 25 November AD 305 in Alexandria. according to tradition her body disappeared and was transported by angels to the highest mountain peak of the Sinai Peninsula. it’s begin from three centuries later, following a dream, some monks from the monastery found her relics, brought them down from the mountain, and placed them in a gilded sarcophagus, which now stands in the basilica choir.
During the period of seventh century, the prophet Mohammad dictated a long document granting protection to the monastery and exempting it from taxes. A copy of it can be seen hanging in the Icon Gallery, next to Napoleon’s letter of protection written in 1798. Ottoman armies was built mosque inside the Monastery’s walls in 1381.that the complex was partly Muslim, saving it from destruction. Since the eleventh century the Monastery has been known as St Catherine’s Monastery. Its library contains a collection of 5000 books and over 3000 manuscripts (most of which are in Greek), including some of the most ancient and important in the world, and is considered second only to that of the Vatican.
By the end of the tour you will be transferred once again to Sharm Elshiekh port for departure
Tour Includes;
– Pick up and drop off in front of the cruise exit door
– All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle.
– Private Egyptologist guide speaking your language.
– Entrance fees for the all the included sites in itinerary.
Tour Excludes;
– Egypt Visa.
– Tipping Kitty.
– Any extras not mentioned
Notes:
– Monastery is a religious sanctuary, so you have to consider this within visit
– Comfortable walking shoes, sun hat, sun screens and sun block are needed during this tour
– Bottled water highly recommended during the tour.
– We recommend you to follow the leaders instructions for a safe ride.
