Behind the Kitchen

2 comments to Behind the Kitchen

• Richard Saloom

  September 4, 2020 at 3:56 am · Reply

  Dear Father Justin,
  This is an interesting picture. It seems that most of your pictures bring out, at least for me questions. What would have been the source of wood for the monastery use traditionally?
  Regards,
  Richard

  • Father Justin

    September 4, 2020 at 6:18 am · Reply

    Wood is very scarce in the Sinai. The massive beams in the sixth century basilica are cedar, and the tradition is that they were brought from Lebanon. In the more humble structures, the monks used any available timbers, including branches of trees, or even the trunks of palm trees, which would have disintegrated in a more humid climate. The central post in the photograph seems to be eucalyptus, which accounts for the beautiful patches of colour.