"Nestled in the back of a narrow canyon, surrounded by the rugged beauty and incredible quietness of Sinai, the monastery is the oldest Christian monastery in the world. It is built on the site of a number of biblical happenings, the well where Moses met the daughters of Jethro the Priest (it’s still there) the encounter of Moses with God through the burning bush (also still there) and the approximate camping site of the Israelites when Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments from God.

You will see on the right of the monastery the base of Mt. Sinai, continue going right and you can see just a bit of the town of St. Catherine. The mountain where Jethro is believed to have lived is behind the monastery and maybe an hour away by camel.

As early as the third century AD monks were settling in small communities around the site of the well and burning bush, and in 330 AD, St Helena erected a small church and a tower for the monks’ protection. In the years 527-565 the walled fortress and the present church were built by Emperor Justinian.

The guest house just outside the walls of the monastery is a great place to stay and find refreshment from the busyness of everyday life, and just relax and enjoy the peaceful, quiet, desert life.."Gideon Stoltzfus