This Web exhibition created by the Getty allows visitors to view Byzantine icons from the remote Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai, the world's oldest continuously operating Christian monastery, and also the largest repository of Byzantine icons. Tools provided on the Web site allow you to zoom in on the icons, and see their details from a much closer vantage point than viewing in the museum would allow. The section entitled "Holy Space" provides a virtual tour of the church, going both forward and backward in time - showing how the Monastery of Saint Catherine looks today, as well as where the icons were probably placed in the 11th and 12th centuries. Many audio clips are provided, including curators' commentary, a pilgrim's account of seeing Saint Catherine's relics, and Father Justin of the Monastery telling the story of John Climacus, an abbot at Sinai in the early 7th century, illustrated by a 12th century icon, The Heavenly Ladder of Saint John Climacus. There is also a video tour that runs a little over 9 minutes, that begins with chanting monks celebrating Christ's resurrection.
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