Saint Catherine’s Monastery: A Tangible Testament to the Vitality of Eighth Century Christians in Egypt

This paper examines the role and impact of Saint Catherine's monastery in the lives of eighth century Christians living in Egypt. By approaching this topic through the lens of material and embodied religion, Saint Catherine's can be identified as a sacred space as well as a tangible testament to the vitality of eighth century Christians in Egypt. This paper specifically examines the structure and location of the monastery, the Ashtiname of Muhammad, and information provided by Father Justin who currently lives at Saint Catherine's. Through these sources, the Holy Monastery is identified as a refuge for Christians in the midst of religious conflict as well as a memorialization of the deeply rooted history of migration, violence, memory, and home-making that Christians in Egypt have experienced throughout the past generations.