Saint Catherine’s Monastery, one of the oldest functioning monasteries in the world, where Moses received the Ten Commandments from Almighty Allah. Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The Divine Liturgy was led by Pope Simeon, metropolitan of Saint Catherine’s Monastery, with monks and a large number of Greek priests participating.
The ceremony opened with church bells ringing, followed by the removal of Saint Catherine’s relics from the tomb beside the main church.
Monks carried the relics in a procession around the church, accompanied by banners, the cross, incense, and continuous bell-ringing, before returning them to the tomb. Hymns and prayers continued until the liturgy ended.
After the service, the metropolitan and the monks welcomed Greek Orthodox visitors and local Bedouin tribal elders.
The metropolitan distributed silver rings to visitors, Christians and Muslims alike, as a spiritual symbol linked to the tradition known as the “betrothal of Jesus Christ to Saint Catherine.”
Saint Catherine’s story dates back to the 3rd century AD. She lived in Alexandria and converted to Christianity after a vision of Jesus Christ in a dream.
When the emperor learned of her conversion, he tried to persuade her to return to paganism, offering marriage or wealth, but she refused. He ultimately ordered her execution by beheading.
Only Saint Catherine’s skull and one hand survive as relics. They were found on Mount Catherine in the 11th century and placed in the tomb next to the monastery’s main church.
The annual celebrations of Saint Catherine’s martyrdom take place every year on 7 and 8 December.
Saint Catherine’s Monastery, officially the Sacred Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount Sinai, is one of the world’s oldest continuously functioning Christian monasteries and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Located at the foot of Mount Sinai in South Sinai, the monastery is administered by the Greek Orthodox Church and remains a major spiritual destination for Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide.
The annual commemoration of Saint Catherine’s martyrdom is one of the most significant events in the monastery’s liturgical calendar.
Pilgrims traditionally arrive from Greece, Cyprus, Eastern Europe, and several Arab countries to join the two-day celebrations, which include liturgies, processions, and veneration of the relics.
The monastery also plays a significant role in cultural diplomacy and interfaith coexistence in the region.
It maintains centuries-old ties with the Bedouin tribes of South Sinai, especially the Jabaleya tribe, who have long protected and supported it. The monastery houses a renowned library of ancient manuscripts and icons, second in size only to the Vatican’s.
Great Transfiguration Project
The Egyptian government’s Great Transfiguration Project, designed and executed over five years, is aimed at developing Saint Catherine and its surroundings into a global destination for religious, environmental, and cultural tourism.
The award-winning project includes infrastructure upgrades, heritage conservation, and improved visitor services, and is part of Egypt’s broader Sinai Development Strategy.
Earlier this month, the project won first prize at the Middle East Landscape Conference 2025 in Abu Dhabi, earning recognition as the region's leading heritage-landscape project.
The project includes a modern visitor centre to ease access for international pilgrims, upgraded pedestrian routes to Mount Sinai and Mount Catherine, redesigned public squares integrated with the natural landscape, and restoration work around the monastery to protect its historic structures.
It also includes conservation measures in the Saint Catherine Protectorate, one of Egypt’s richest ecological zones, to protect rare mountain plants and animals and ensure that rising visitor numbers do not harm the fragile environment.
Cultural and spiritual elements form a major part of the project. An open-air spiritual amphitheatre has been created for interfaith gatherings, cultural events, and religious celebrations, alongside dedicated spaces for meditation and quiet reflection.
The surrounding city is also being upgraded, with new road links, improved connections to Sharm El-Sheikh and other South Sinai centres, and the use of sustainable energy systems such as solar power.
Accommodation facilities, eco-lodges, and hospitality services are being expanded to improve the visitor experience while preserving the region’s natural and cultural character.
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