A young almond tree in bloom next to the chapel of Saint Panteleimon. The peak of Mount Saint Catherine is visible in the distance.
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Beautiful ripidia are brought out for special feast days and placed across the back of the Holy Table.
Προηγοῦνται δὲ τούτου οἱ Χοροὶ τῶν Ἀγγέλων, μετὰ πάσης Ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐξουσίας, τὰ πολυόμματα Χερουβείμ, καὶ τὰ ἑξαπτέρυγα Σεραφείμ, τὰς ὄψεις καλύπτοντα, καὶ βοῶντα τὸν ὕμνον· Ἀλληλούϊα, Ἀλληλούϊα, Ἀλληλούϊα. And there do precede him the choirs of Angels, with every Principality and Authority, the many-eyed Cherubim, and the six-winged Seraphim, covering their faces, and crying out the hymn: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. During the week after Pascha, streams of sunlight shine on the Holy Table during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. The cross behind the Holy Table is now empty, and adorned with a wreath of flowers.
Νῦν πάντα πεπλήρωται φωτός, οὐρανός τε καὶ γῆ, καὶ τὰ καταχθόνια· ἑορταζέτω γοῦν πᾶσα κτίσις, τὴν Ἔγερσιν Χριστοῦ, ἐν ᾗ ἐστερέωται. Now are all things filled with light, heaven and earth, and the nethermost regions of the earth. Let all creation, therefore, celebrate the arising of Christ, whereby it is established.
. . . ἕως οὗ ἡμέρα διαυγάσῃ καὶ φωσφόρος ἀνατείλῃ ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν. . . . until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19
Μὴ ἐποδύρου μου, μῆτερ, καθορῶσα ἐν τάφῳ ὃν ἐν γαστρὶ ἄνευ σπορᾶς συνέλαβες Υἱὸν· ἀναστήσομαι γὰρ καὶ δοξασθήσομαι καὶ ὑψώσω ἐν δόξῃ ἀπαύστως ὡς Θεὸς τοὺς ἐν πίστει καὶ πόθῳ σὲ μεγαλύνοντας. Mourn not for me, O Mother, beholding in the tomb the Son whom thou didst conceive in thy womb without seed; for I shall arise and be glorified, and as God I shall exalt in everlasting glory those who magnify thee with faith and fervent longing. Heirmos of the Ninth Ode for Matins on Holy and Great Saturday Dark clouds and rain reflect the sombre hymns of Holy Week.
When the Lord was coming to His voluntary Passion, He said to His Apostles in the way: Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be delivered up, as it is written concerning Him. Come, therefore, with minds purified, let us also go in the way with Him, and let us be crucified with Him, and die for Him to the pleasures of this life, that we may also live with Him, and may hear Him crying: No longer do I go to the earthly Jerusalem to suffer, but I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and unto My God and your God; and I will raise you up together unto the Jerusalem on high, in the Kingdom of the Heavens.
Opposite the sun, the blossoms on the twisted almond tree become translucent in the morning light.
The twisted almond tree in full bloom next to the chapel of Saint Gregory of Sinai.
The fourth Sunday of the Fast is dedicated to the memory of Saint John, Abbot of Sinai and author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent. On this day, four of us set out to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the small chapel below his cave.
We began to descend into the valley at the first light of day.
It had rained the previous day, and at one point we had to step across a swiftly flowing stream.
The white dome of the chapel visible for the first time in the distance.
As we reached the chapel, a ray of sunlight shone through the clouds on the mountain behind the chapel.
The cave of Saint John Climacus.
Wildflowers were blooming in the area. These were the first flowers of springtime. The twisted almond tree at the Chapel of Saint Gregory of Sinai was in full bloom, weeks after the trees at the monastery had bloomed. It is much colder up in the mountains.
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