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Description

Site of the World's Oldest Continuously Operating Library

Fine early woodblock view of the Cloister atop Mount Sinai, an important site visited and revered by pilgrims and travelers for centuries.

The cloister is located on Mount Sinai, also known as Jebel Musa, in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. The site is home to the Monastery of Saint Catherine, one of the oldest functioning Christian monasteries in the world. The Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its ancient architecture, rich history, and spiritual significance.

The monastery was founded in the 6th century by the Justinian I, and it has been continuously inhabited by monks ever since.  The monastery has always been a center of learning, and its library is the oldest continually operating library in the world, containing thousands of ancient manuscripts and books.

The monastery has also played a significant role in the history of Christianity. It is believed to be the site where Moses received the Ten Commandments, and it was a popular destination for early Christian pilgrims.   

Johann Helffrich made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1565, going from Leipzig overland to Venice and then taking ship to the Levant. He travelled in company with Fürer von Haimendorf, who also produced an account of his travels, and other German pilgrims. He continued on to Egypt after visiting the Holy Land. Helffrich’s narrative is quite comprehensive, particularly with regard to the customs and practices of the local peoples.