This spectacular monastery was completed in 565AD. The walls are 12 meters high and 5 ½ meters thick. The original entrance is 9meteres off the ground where a pulley system was used to lift people and provisions into the monastery. It was originally built with the 'Burning Bush' as its centre piece and a descendent of this bush can still be seen on the grounds today. The monastery is today inhabited my Greek Orthodox monks therefore only small sections are open to the public. However, this does include the Chapel which is adorned with gold that was presented to the monastery from countries all over the World. Also open is the museum that holds icons, mosaics and paintings, donated throughout the centuries and still in immaculate condition.
