Sinai's treasure
The Greek Orthodox fathers of Saint Catherine Monastery have opened its Treasury to the public. Samir Naoum reports
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A Russian cameo of St Catherine; bronze water container in the shape of a dove and an icon of Saint Peter are among the monastery's treasures now on display
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The Monastery of Saint Catherine nestles among the barren mountains of South Sinai, isolated and protected by nature's barriers as well as by the great enclosure wall erected in the sixth century by the Emperor Justinian. Over the ages it has accumulated untold treasures brought by pious monks and pilgrims. Until last year, few of these could be seen to advantage -- movement around the Church of the Transfiguration was restricted and even the selected icons displayed in the narthex were poorly lit.
Now a special gallery has been built within the monastery so selected holy objects can be exhibited in showcases, properly documented with concise information in English and Arabic.
In December 2002, during the annual ceremony commemorating the martyrdom of Saint Catherine -- one of Orthodox Christianity's most revered figures -- Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens spoke about St Catherine's status in both the Coptic and Greek Orthodox churches, and officially opened the Treasury. It is clear that the monks, who have been in almost continuous occupation in Sinai since the sixth century, have recognised that a large number of visitors are no longer pilgrims but tourists and art historians and that the monastery's treasures should be made more accessible.
The chosen objects on display range from icons to ecclesiastical robes, from gold chalices and gospel covers to manuscripts, and they reflect the full range of history from the Byzantine period to the Arab conquest, the Crusaders and the Ottoman Turks, through to Napoleon who financed the reconstruction of the north wing of the monastery at the end of the 18th century.
The objects have been grouped according to genre. Among the manuscripts are valuable texts in Arabic, Aramaic, Coptic, Greek Georgian and Latin -- a small but significant selection from the monastery's vast literary heritage, second in importance only to the Vatican. The original document that proclaims Islam's protection of the monks, reputedly written by the Prophet Mohamed himself and signed by Abu- Bakr Al-Sadiq, Omar Ibn Al-Khatab, Osman Ibn Afan and other disciples, is also on display, as well as Cosmas's world map which locates and describes a number of sacred Coptic sites in the 11th century, and a recently discovered roll of papyrus dating from the 12th century outlining rituals of the Coptic Mass.
From the monastery's priceless collection of some 2,000 icons, a unique artistic and spiritual heritage, rare examples have been chosen dating from the earliest (the sixth and seventh centuries) encaustic (wax-based) technique, to the large 19th century icon featuring different stages of the saint's life. Among the former is an icon of Saint Peter who is depicted with medallions of Christ between two angels above his halo.
The Treasury glows with a fine collection of silver and golden ritual implements, and one cannot but marvel at such objects as the Holy Communion chalice made of gold and silver inlaid with diamonds and pearls, complete with a cover that matches the size of the archbishop's crown; according to the inscription it was made in 1732. Also priceless is a 17th-century Russian cameo of St Catherine framed with enamel and pearls, as well as crowns and gospel covers inlaid with precious stones. A bronze water container in the shape of a dove, fabricated in Iraq and dating from the Fatimid period (10th-12th century), also deserves mention.
In the 13th century the impact of the Crusades of various nations on the monastery is evident. Not only did they themselves produce icons, but pilgrims from the West brought a great wealth of gifts. Most of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth were destroyed again and again by conquerors of various nationalities over the ages; only the Monastery of St Catherine has managed to preserve its unparalleled heritage.
