THE GREEK ORTHODOX MONASTERY OF THE GOD-TRODDEN MOUNT SINAI – ST. CATHERINE’S DEPENDENCY IN CONSTANTINOPLE, NAMED AFTER ST JOHN THE FORERUNNER AND BAPTIST OF CHRIST

The Greek Orthodox Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount Sinai – St Catherine’s (A.R.Egypt), on a holy site connected to great biblical events, is considered as the oldest Christian monastery still in use for its initial function, a holy site for the believers of the three Abrahamic religions, a pole of pilgrimage and an arc of great spiritual and cultural heritage.

Through the ages Sinai Monastery developed a broad and many-sided activity far away from its narrow geographical position, through its numerous monastic dependencies in Egypt, West Europe, the Balkans, Asia Minor, Middle East, Russia etc.

One of the most important Sinai dependencies is considered the Dependency in Constantinople, named after St John the Forerunner and Baptist of Christ.

The presence of a Sinai delegation in the capital of Byzantine Empire is dated back in the mid-Byzantine era. In the beginning of the 17th c., the Sinai is settled in the late-Byzantine monastery of St John in Balata region, close to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. After different destructions of fire, the dependency in its present form dates back mainly to the 1729 restoration.

The Sinai dependency of St John, during the period of the Ottoman occupation of Egypt and the Balkans, became important for the support of the Sinai interests before the Ottoman authorities, since the Archbishops of Sinai often resided here. In parallel, due to the privileges assigned to Sinai by prophet Mohamed and the reputation of the highly educated Sinai monks, the dependency became a centre of spirituality and learning.

Nowadays, the dependency of St John the Forruner, continues its spiritual presence and is involved in works of restoration of its historical buildings, and in scientific work on the heirlooms (icons and manuscripts) that originate from it.

Address: Sinai Dependency in Constantinople
c/o 26, Doryleou St, 11521 Athens, Greece
Tel: +30-210-6454923
Fax:+30-210-6454632