St. Catherine’s Museum

It is a church of the Sinaitic Monastery of St. Catherine, located northeast of the Cathedral of St. Minas. It was founded during the Second Byzantine Period and served as a spiritual and artistic center from the 15th to the 17th century.

St. Catherine’s is a basilica with a transept. The northern part of the church is the Chapel of the Holy Ten. The founder of the museum was Archbishop Eugenios of Crete. It belongs to the Communication and Educational Foundation of the Archdiocese of Crete. During the Turkish occupation, Agia Ekaterini was converted into a mosque—Zulfikar Ali Pasha Mosque (1669–1922). In 1924, the Archbishopric of Sinai granted it to the Archbishop of Crete.

Its collection includes a range of Orthodox icons and ecclesiastical relics. It houses frescoes, including examples from the 14th century, originating from various parts of Crete. Representative works of the Cretan School include Renaissance-style icons by the renowned hagiographer Michael Damaskinos (16th century). The exhibition is complemented by icons from the 18th and 19th centuries. Among the most notable exhibits are: “The Adoration of the Magi,” “Scenes from the Life of St. George,” “The Second Coming,” “The Divine Liturgy,” and “Christ Almighty.”