Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly Visits Saint Catherine’s Monastery: Celebrates Development Efforts and Spiritual Significance of Sacred Site

Gerges Mounir Hanna – OCP News Service – 30/09/2024

Cairo – Egypt: During his tour of the city of Saint Catherine today, Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, along with his delegation, visited the Wadi Al-Deir area, one of the most important regions of Saint Catherine due to its significance as the holy valley mentioned in all heavenly religions.

The Prime Minister and his delegation were welcomed at Saint Catherine’s Monastery by Dr. Ahmed Adel Tawfiq, Director of South Sinai Antiquities, Monk Porphyrios, the Monastery’s Deputy, and Monk Justin, the Monastery’s Librarian, along with several other priests and monks.

At the start of his visit, the Prime Minister met with the priests and monks, expressing his consistent eagerness to visit the monastery whenever he is in the city, and highlighting his appreciation for its profound spiritual significance.

Dr. Mostafa Madbouly noted that the area is currently undergoing comprehensive development under the direction of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, with special focus on Saint Catherine City and the Great Transfiguration Site. The goal is to present this sacred place, which was honored by the manifestation of God, in a magnificent manner, recognizing its spiritual value and elevating it as a world-renowned tourist destination worthy of its status as a site embracing the three Abrahamic religions.

In response, the priests and monks of Saint Catherine’s Monastery expressed their deep appreciation for the development work being carried out in the area. They also thanked the President and the government for their attention to the region, affirming that this level of development is unprecedented and unlike anything they have seen before.

During the meeting, Dr. Ahmed Adel Tawfiq, Director of South Sinai Antiquities, stated: “The monastery area is the closest point to the sky on Egyptian soil, located 1,500 meters above sea level. The city boasts an extremely dry climate with no humidity, making it an ideal natural environment for preserving treasures such as the icons and manuscripts that adorn the walls of Saint Catherine’s Monastery.”

Dr. Madbouly also toured the Monastery’s library, the “Icon Gallery,” located above the northern tower of the monastery. He listened to a detailed explanation from Monk Justin, the Monastery’s Librarian, about the treasures housed within, including valuable manuscripts, Sinai treasures, metalwork, and bishop’s garments embroidered with gold and silver threads, some dating back to the 4th century AD.

The Prime Minister also received a detailed account of the history of the monastery and monasticism in Sinai, along with an overview of the religious significance of the various components of Saint Catherine’s Monastery. The monastery is unique in that it brings together the three Abrahamic religions within its walls, a rare feature found only in the land of the Great Transfiguration, which has placed Saint Catherine City on the World Heritage List. The monastery’s grounds contain the Burning Bush, the Transfiguration Church, the main church of the monastery, and the Fatimid Mosque, with its minaret standing side by side with the church’s bell tower.

It was also noted that the area surrounding Saint Catherine’s Monastery includes Safsafa Mountain, and behind it, Mount Moses (Mount Sinai), which can be ascended via the Stairs Path or the Pilgrims’ Path, leading to gates known as the Gates of Forgiveness and Repentance, and then to Mount Transfiguration, which has no peak. The rocks of Mount Transfiguration are entirely different in composition from those of the surrounding area, and its elevation is distinct from both Mount Sinai and Mount Moses, considered a sign of God’s greatness. The ancient pilgrimage route involves climbing the 3,500 steps behind the monastery, passing through the Gates of Forgiveness and Repentance.

Source:

OCP News Service