Monastery of St. Catherine in Egypt, Sinai Peninsula resort
Rating: 7,5/10 (461 votes)  Monastery of St. Catherine, located at an altitude of 1.5 kilometers, – it is one of the most interesting tourism destinations in Egypt. It is located between three mountains: Safsaf, Catherine and Moses. The monastery was built during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian. In 537, the monastery was turned into a fortress to defend against nomadic tribes. The monastery was patronized by Muhammad, Turkish sultans, Arab caliphs, Napoleon – that is why for all the time of its existence it has not been plundered. In the 10th century, Egypt was Islamized, and a mosque was erected on the territory of the temple, which also saved the monastery from destruction. In general, in its entire history, the temple was not damaged, captured or destroyed. It is here that the Burning Bush grows. A chapel now stands on the site of the bush. The monastery is named after St. Catherine. Converted by a monk to Christianity, she tried to convert the emperor of Rome, Maximius. The attempt was unsuccessful, and she was exiled to Alexandria, where she died in agony. Her body disappeared, and was later found on one of the mountains, which was named Mount Catherine. The aspid of the church is decorated with a mosaic of the Transfiguration of Jesus. It is the earliest and best-preserved Orthodox mosaic. Ordinary tourists mainly visit only the Burning Bush and the front of the church itself, while the Orthodox visit other places, including the monastery library. You can get to the monastery from Sharm el-Sheikh. The journey will take about 4 hours. 
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