FatherJustinsBlog

In monasteries, at the end of meals on feast days, there is a special service in which a loaf is blessed and distributed to those present. At Sinai, these loaves are stamped with a seal depicting the Virgin Mary of the Burning Bush, the Prophet Moses, and Saint Catherine.

The kelli in the east wall just after sunrise.

At full resolution, you can see swallows darting about in the morning light.

But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land. (Exodus 2:15-22)

Window panes from a kelli in the east wall reflect the setting sun.

Excavations along the south wall of the sixth century basilica reveal granite ashlars resting on bedrock.

A course of field stones was placed against the ashlars. This course is almost five feet below the present ground level.