The arrival of a new day, looking across the valley from Saint Panteleimon’s to the peak of Mount Saint Catherine.
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Every year, we celebrate Pentecost all together at the monastery. The following day, Monday of the Holy Spirit, we celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the peak of Mount Sinai. This year we left at four o’clock in the morning. There were thirteen of us — members of the community, and pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Canada, and Austria.
The sky became light with the arrival of a new day.
The sun rose as we began to climb the last steps to the summit.
The Holy Table, with the fresco in the apse depicting the Virgin Mary of the Burning Bush, painted in 1937. We celebrate this feast of Holy Pentecost today in commemoration of the coming into the world of the All-holy Spirit, which happened fifty days after the Resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ, which fulfilled His promise to His disciples and obtained the completion of their hope and sanctification. We celebrate Holy Pentecost furthermore in honour of the weekly number, that is, as the Jews counting seven weeks from Passover celebrated their own Pentecost, since fifty days were fulfilled from Passover to the receiving of the Law, in this manner we celebrate the Fiftieth from Pascha as instead of the Law we have received the All-holy Spirit on this day of Pentecost, legislating and guiding us into all truth and the commandments appointed by God. Ὁ Μέγας Συναξαριστῆς τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας Watching the sun slip behind the mountains from the Chapel of Saint Panteleimon.
A promontory a short walk from the chapel of Saint Panteleimon gives an unobstructed view across the valley to the peak of Mount Saint Catherine at dusk.
The granite stones at the northwest corner of the Chapel of Saint Panteleimon turn golden at sunset.
The summit of Mount Saint Catherine is visible in the distance. In the foreground, rock formations to the west of the Chapel of Saint Panteleimon catch the last rays of the setting sun.
The almond trees are in bloom for about two weeks in early spring. The beautiful flowers with their subtle fragrance are in stark contrast to the surrounding granite mountains.
A young almond tree in bloom next to the chapel of Saint Panteleimon. The peak of Mount Saint Catherine is visible in the distance.
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.
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