Mount Sinai, a majestic granitic peak, holds a paramount position in religious history as the revered site of divine revelation. Located in the south-central Sinai Peninsula, specifically within the Janūb Sīnāʾ (South Sinai) governorate of Egypt, Mount Sinai is most famously recognized as the place where, according to Abrahamic religions, God appeared to Moses. It was upon this sacred mountain that Moses received the Ten Commandments, foundational principles in Judaism and Christianity, as described in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy. Jewish tradition further emphasizes Mount Sinai as the location where not only the Ten Commandments but the entire Torah and its interpretations were revealed to Moses. This mountain’s sanctity extends beyond Judaism, holding a revered status in both Christian and Islamic faiths.
Despite its profound religious importance, pinpointing the exact biblical Mount Sinai remains a subject of scholarly debate. The challenge arises from differing scholarly interpretations regarding the route of the Israelite Exodus from Egypt and the difficulty in definitively matching place-names from scriptural accounts with contemporary locations. Consequently, a conclusive geographical identification of the biblical Mount Sinai is not currently possible. Nevertheless, the Mount Sinai situated in the Sinai Peninsula has been historically and traditionally accepted across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as the significant site.
In the early centuries of Christianity, the Mount Sinai area became a haven for hermits seeking spiritual solitude. This era of monastic presence culminated in 530 CE with the construction of the renowned St. Catherine’s Monastery. Nestled at the northern base of Mount Sinai, this monastery stands as a testament to enduring faith and history. Remarkably, St. Catherine’s Monastery continues to be inhabited by monks of the autonomous Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai, and is considered one of the oldest continuously operating Christian monasteries in the world. Its globally significant library houses a treasure trove of ancient biblical manuscripts, most notably the 4th-century Greek Codex Sinaiticus, a crucial manuscript for understanding the text of the Bible, now housed in the British Library.
Rising to an elevation of 7,497 feet (2,285 meters) above sea level, Mount Sinai’s geographical and historical significance is further punctuated by its modern history. From the Six-Day War in 1967 until 1979, the mountain was under Israeli administration before being returned to Egypt. Today, Mount Sinai is not only a place of deep religious pilgrimage but also a significant tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the globe who seek to experience its spiritual and historical aura.
