Journey into history
I'll tell you about one winter trip to Egypt, when the weather itself is conducive to excursions, trips, and new experiences. Of course, you can scream on the beach on a cool afternoon, lazily sipping cocktails and reading your favorite novel. Enjoy your vacation and not rush anywhere, especially savoring the thought that there is far from HOME - frost, snow, cold. And you can LEARN, DISCOVER something new and IMPRESS...
Egypt is rich in its history. And not only pyramids, tombs, etc. It is rich in the history of the Christian world. One of my first trips to Egypt was the monastery of St. Catherine, which is located at the holy mountain of Moses on the Sinai Peninsula at an altitude of 1570 meters. Mount Moses is a sacred place of three religions (Christianity, Islam and Judaism), the monastery is a place where HISTORY is alive, the Bible is in reality. And it doesn’t matter that there are still disputes whether it is a MOUNTAIN or not. The place is fantastic, even mystical.
Many travel at night to meet the dawn on the mountain, but I wanted to examine the monastery without being exhausted.
So, in 330, St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, builds a church on the supposed site where God appeared to Moses in a burning bush. In 530, Emperor Justinian ordered the construction of a basilica (later the Temple of the Transfiguration) and powerful fortifications built around the temple. Around the same time, the hermit monks, who had settled at the foot of the mountain since ancient times, simultaneously had a vision that the relics of St. Catherine were on the mountain (Katerina Peak).
The monks climbed the mountain and discovered the remains of the saint, identifying them by the ring "given" by Jesus. The relics were not touched by corruption and exuded the sweetest myrrh. The monks transferred the relics to the monastery, after which the monastery became known as the monastery of St. Catherine. Throughout its long history, the monastery has never been captured, destroyed or damaged. He was patronized at certain stages of history by the Prophet Muhammad, Arab caliphs, Turkish sultans, Napoleon and Russian tsars.
We go, take rations from the hotel for the road - breakfast and go. On the way, a good guide will always tell you the history of the excursion place or many stories. Time is running fast. Mountains, mountains, the landscape is unremarkable. But the roads are good. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, because upon arrival you have to climb a lot up, and it's cool there. And if you gather to meet the dawn on Mount Moses, jackets and hats will not hurt.
By the way, you can not walk up the hill, for dollars you can be brought on a camel, whatever you like.
You go and see this majestic creation, in some special aura. There are many people from different countries. Stick to the guide. . .
In ONE place both the minoret and the bell tower.
They won’t push through inside, the head is spinning from the views, from the information. you need to see - BURNING BUSHING, touch, make a wish. She is thorny, prickly. Such a joy that I touched! The Huge Bush is said to be a descendant of the same burning bush that Moses saw. On the top of Mount Sinai, according to the Old Testament, God turned to Moses from the burning and non-burning bush of the Burning Bush, on this mountain Moses received stone tablets with the famous ten commandments... Here it is the Basilica of the Transfiguration - The main temple of the monastery has retained its appearance, including even entrance doors from Lebanese cedar, from the VI century. The ceiling, marble floor and iconostasis of the basilica date back to the 18th century, the doors of the vestibule were added by the crusaders in the 11th century. In each of the 12 columns supporting the vault, the relics of saints are stored in special recesses, covered with bronze plates. There is a service. Monks dressed in black and with big beards, like pictures out of books. There is one Russian-speaking one, as well as the fact that the bell was donated free of charge by a wealthy Russian to the monastery, which helps Russian-speakers to write "for health" without payment, to receive the ring consecrated. And you feel the spirit, joy, happiness. Unforgettable delight. . .
Here we see what is allowed. It's time to relax and have lunch (buffet in one of the hotels on the road). And further with a mass of new impressions to the sea, to the hotel, to comfort. . .
And only a few photos remind me that I was where TIME STOPPED and there is ETERNITY. . .
