The Burning Bush has a great significance for the Monastery of Saint Catherine, as the traditional site of the Bush is preserved within its sacred walls. Some of the Monastery's earliest iconography includes many depictions of Moses removing his sandals on this holy ground. Clearly the monastic community, living their ascetic lives in the desert, felt an affinity for Moses, who also lived an ascetic life in the wilderness as he followed God's calling wherever it took him.
This 800-year-old panel icon is a faithful copy of the 1500-year-old mosaic found in the Monastery's main church since its founding. The iconographer—who was likely trained in Constantinople, based on the painting style—used bright and bold colors that have not faded through the centuries, and remain incredibly beautiful to this day.
Moses is depicted as a young man, kneeling, untying his sandals and throwing them aside. His head is bowed in reverence and his face is solemn as he looks upon the sacred bush that contains a manifestation of God.
The bush that held God without burning up also became an image of the Virgin Mary, who held God Incarnate within her womb, yet was not consumed.
Easy to overlook is a donor figure in the lower left corner of the frame. This Arab man, kneeling and wearing a turban, is likely a depiction of the man who paid for the icon. For many centuries, this was a common way of honoring persons who enabled the churches to be beautified.
By purchasing this icon, you join this unnamed man in continuing the work of beautifying and preserving the rich heritage of Saint Catherine's Monastery.
