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The North Wall

The first rays of sunlight strike the north wall of the fortress.

Winter Clouds

Scattered clouds on a cold winter’s day create patches of sunlight that move slowly over the surrounding mountains.

Spiritual Oven

In classical times, a κλίβανος was a covered earthen vessel, wider at the bottom than at the top, used for baking bread. A fire was lit within, after which the bread was baked from the radiant heat remaining in the vessel. “If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven (κλίβανος); how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Luke 12:28)

In the Homily in Praise of Mary the Theotokos, attributed to Epiphanius of Cyprus, the κλίβανος is seen as a figure of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Eucharist.

Χαῖρε, παναγία Παρθένε, ἡ τὸ πῦρ τῆς θεότητος ἀφλέκτως, ὡς νοερὰ βάτος, κατέχουσα, ἡ νοερὰ κλίβανος, ἡ τὸ πῦρ καὶ τὸν ἄρτον τῆς ζωῆς θερμὸν τῷ κόσμῳ πρὸς βρῶσιν ἐνέγκασα· περὶ οὗ λέγει ὁ Σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου Χριστός· Λάβετε, φάγετε· τοῦτό μου ἐστὶ τὸ σῶμα, τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν κλώμενον εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.

Rejoice, O all-holy Virgin, spiritual bush containing the fire of the Godhead without being burnt, spiritual oven, having borne the fire and the warm bread of life for food for the world, concerning which Christ the Saviour of the world saith: Take, eat: this is my body, broken for you for the remission of sins.

More Almond Blossoms 2024

Almond Blossoms 2024

The almond trees at Sinai usually bloom during the first warm days in early February. They are heralds of spring, filling the air with their subtle fragrance.

Icon of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sinai

Detail of an icon of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sinai, from the thirteenth century. In the top register, Christ is seated upon a throne, holding the Gospel in his left hand, and blessing with his upraised right hand. The orb behind him is adorned with stars. The Virgin Mary and Saint John the Forerunner stand to either side, supplicating him. The Apostle Peter stands to the left, and the Apostle Paul to the right. In the far right is an icon of Saint John Climacus, and in the left corner, an icon of the Righteous Paul.

Then our holy father Paul raised his hands to heaven and said, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, thou who never diest, forget not thy servants, but remember our afflictions and our poverty. Strengthen us in this hour of tribulation and receive the sacrifice which we offer as well-pleasing unto thee.’ Thereupon, when we had all said ‘Amen’, there came a voice from the altar, which we all heard, saying, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ At this voice we were all struck with awe.

Holy Forty Martyrs of Sinai and Raithou

On January 14, we celebrate the memory of forty monks from Sinai who were killed by the Saracens, and forty monks from Raithou, on the coast of the Red Sea, who were killed by the Blemmyes, in the fourth century.

Detail of an icon of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Raithou, from the thirteenth century. In the top register, the Virgin Mary stands before a throne adorned with pearls and precious stones, her hands raised in intercession. The Christ Child is depicted in a superimposed nimbus. The Archangels Michael and Gabriel bow in veneration. To the left is Saint John Climacus, and to the right, Saint John of Damascus.

Sabas’ hope was slender, and he glorified God greatly for what had happened. As his wound was not very serious, he showed himself distressed that he had not been found worthy to share the death of the holy ones who were slain. He bewailed his lot and said, ‘Woe is me, wretched man that I am, that I was not found worthy to be reckoned in the number of the holy Fathers who were slain for Christ’s sake’. He spoke thus with tears, and prayed to God, saying, ‘Thou who art God alone, who hast loved mankind, I pray three, separate me not from the holy Fathers who were slain for thy name’s sake, but let the number of the Forty Martyrs be made complete through me, for thou knowest that I have believed in three, loved thee, and longed for thee from a child, sinful and unworthy though I am’. And when he had spoken thus with a wise and true mind, he gave up the ghost on the fourth day after all the holy men.

Second Timothy

Saint Paul’s Second Epistle to Timothy begins on folio 149 recto of Greek New Finds M120.

Παῦλος ἀπόστολος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ κατ’ ἐπαγγελίαν ζωῆς τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ Τιμοθέῳ ἀγαπητῷ τέκνῳ χάρις ἔλεος εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

The epistle is set off with a border of intricate intertwined ribbons.

Theophany 2024

Σήμερον ὁ ἄδυτος ἥλιος ἀνέτειλε, καὶ ὁ κόσμος τῷ φωτὶ Κυρίου καταυγάζεται.

Today the Sun, which knows no setting, has arisen, and the world is illuminated with the light of the Lord.

All the lamps were lit over the reliquary of Saint Catherine.

A polycandelon holding many oil lamps.

A candelabra towards the back of the nave.

A special fountain in the narthex is used for the Great Blessing of Holy Water on the feast of Theophany. It is adorned with palm fronds, olive branches, and small citrus fruits.

The fountain is surmounted by an oil lamp resting on a silver dove. From the beak of the dove behind, drops of water fall into the first basin.

There are a series of basins, each one larger than the one above, and the water drips from one basin to another.

The water drips from the beaks of silver doves.

An inscription above the last basin gives the date 1783.

Philippians

Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians begins on folio 122 verso of Greek New Finds M120.

Παῦλος καὶ Τιμόθεος δοῦλοι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ πᾶσιν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν Φιλίπποις σὺν ἐπισκόποις καὶ διακόνοις χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The epistle is set off by a simple border of alternating stems and lobes.