Father Justin's Blog

Prophet Elijah’s Basin

The first light of day at the basin of the Prophet Elijah. The cypress tree that had stood there for centuries died a few years ago. Five new trees were planted inside a walled enclosure. Three of them are flourishing. The kelli of Father Daniel is to the left.

Icon of the Holy Mandylion

An icon of the Holy Mandylion over the central gates on the Sinai iconostasion. The icon was created in Moscow in the second half of the seventeenth century.

Almond Blossoms 4

The almond blossoms are all the more striking because they are in such contrast with the stark granite mountains that rise up on both sides of the monastery garden.

Almond Blossoms 3

We can still have cold weather after the almond trees have bloomed. The apricot and apple trees are more cautious, blooming several weeks later. The last to put out new leaves is the fig tree. Ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς συκῆς μάθετε τὴν παραβολήν· ὅταν ἤδη ὁ κλάδος αὐτῆς γένηται ἁπαλὸς καὶ τὰ φύλλα ἐκφύῃ γινώσκετε ὅτι ἐγγὺς τὸ θέρος. ‘Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh.’ (Matthew 24:32)

Almond Blossoms 2

When the almond trees are in bloom, the air is filled with a light and subtle fragrance.

Almond Blossoms 1

I arrived at Saint Catherine’s Monastery on February 23, 1996. The almond trees were in bloom. Each February, when they bloom, it is a sign that I have been here yet another year.

Sinai Sunrise

Winter sunrise at Saint Catherine’s Monastery.

Δόξα. Καὶ νῦν. Θεοτοκίον.
Ἦχος α΄

Τὴν παγκόσμιον δόξαν, τὴν ἐξ ἀνθρώπων σπαρεῖσαν, καὶ τὸν Δεσπότην τεκοῦσαν, τὴν ἐπουράνιον πύλην, ὑμνήσωμεν Μαρίαν τὴν Παρθένον, τῶν Ἀσωμάτων τὸ ᾆσμα, καὶ τῶν πιστῶν τὸ ἐγκαλλώπισμα· αὕτη γὰρ ἀνεδείχθη οὐρανός, καὶ ναὸς τῆς Θεότητος· αὕτη τὸ μεσότοιχον τῆς ἔχθρας καθελοῦσα, εἰρήνην ἀντεισῆξε, καὶ τὸ Βασίλειον ἠνέῳξε. Ταύτην οὖν κατέχοντες, τῆς πίστεως τὴν ἄγκυραν, ὑπέρμαχον ἔχομεν, τὸν ἐξ αὐτῆς τεχθέντα Κύριον. Θαρσείτω τοίνυν, θαρσείτω λαὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ· καὶ γάρ αὐτὸς πολεμήσει τοὺς ἐχθρούς, ὡς παντοδύναμος.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion
First Tone

The universal glory born of men, who hath given birth unto the Master, the heavenly gate; let us praise Mary the Virgin, the song of the bodiless hosts, and the adornment of the faithful. For she was shown to be a Heaven and a temple of the Godhead; destroying the wall of enmity, she ushered in peace and opened the Kingdom. Possessing, therefore, this anchor of faith, we have as champion the Lord Who was born of her. Take courage, therefore, take courage, O ye people of God; for He shall fight thine enemies, since He is the Almighty One.

Seventeenth Century Cross

A four o’clock in the morning, the sky outside is still completely dark. Looking up from the right chanting stand at the beginning of Mesonyktikon, the seventeenth century cross on top of the iconostasion extends almost to the ceiling beams. Two icons to either side depict the Most Holy Theotokos, and the Apostle and Evangelist John, standing at the cross. These are lit by icon lamps. On Sundays, we also light the four red icon lamps to either side of the central candelabra. The candles are lit when we chant the Doxology.

Holy Theophany 2025

On the feast of Holy Theophany, for the Great Blessing of the Waters, we use a fountain dating from 1783. Water streams from a container above through the beak of a silver dove mounted at the top, from which it drips through the mouths of doves set at the rims of three lower basins, one after the other, until it reaches the lowest basin. The fountain is adorned with palm branches, olive boughs, and tangerines brought from Wadi Pharan, where temperatures are always warmer. An icon lamp, also supported by a silver dove, is suspended above.

Ἐπεφάνης σήμερον τῇ οἰκουμένῃ, καὶ τὸ φῶς σου Κύριε, ἐσημειώθη ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς, ἐν ἐπιγνώσει ὑμνοῦντας σε. Ἦλθες ἐφάνης τὸ Φῶς τὸ ἀπρόσιτον.

Thou hast appeared today to the world, and thy light, O Lord, is signed upon us that in knowledge hymn thee: Thou hast come, thou hast appeared, thou Light unapproachable.

First Sun on the Bell Tower and Minaret

The first rays of the winter sun shine on the bell tower and minaret. After I took the first photograph, a dove flew up to the highest cross to catch the first warmth of the sunlight.