The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-31
ON MOUNT SINAI,

Monks Now Guard the Summit Where
Moses Received the Law.
Charles Grad ia the latest traveller e
Mount Sinai and its famous monastery
whore a few monks of the Greek church
lead an isolated life, says the New Yorl
Press. The mountain 10 also called Mount
Horeb. and its Arabic name is DjebeI
Muoa. or Mount Of Moses. The story OF
Mr.. Grads visit to the sacred mountain il
published in Le Tour du Monde, and il
illustrated with views Of the sandy desert
and barren mountains Of the Sinai PENN.
sula. Sinai is not often visited by trav-
elers. Some scholars who have explored
the mountains assert that one or anothor
summit ia more likely to nave been the
Sinai of the Jews than the mountain which
the Crock monks believe was the eminsnce
that was wrapped in cloud and smoke. and
shook with thunders as Moses assembled it.
Most of the authorities, however, accept
tho tradition which makes tho mountain
on whose side the monastery stands the
true Sinai.
There il no settlement for many miles
around. 1t Is n region of sandy vnlIeysa and
bald granite mountains. On all Sides of
the monastery rise naked bills of gray
stone. There ia not a particle of vegeta-
ton EXCEPT in tho garden adjoining the
monastery. where tho tops of q few cypress
trees rise above the walls. The time was
when strangers were raised into the mon
astsry by means of a pulley. Now, how.
ever. the gate is kept opsn. The monks
no longer have to contend with enemies AS
in earlier days, when the Arabs sought to
annihilate them.
Within the lofty wallis are several build
inRs separated by narrow, dark alleys. The
walls are pierced for musket and II
and a fAUv 0nnNnN r tnn1nkn1 nv fhor,
Thev are objects Of curiosity, but could do
littlo harm to an enemy. The two most
conspicuous buildings are the church and
the chapel of the Burning Brush, where,
%ancosding TO the local tradition, God e,,oke
TO Moses. The lib airy Was onoe very rich
in treasures, but its rarest manuscripts have
been carried away. There Tisohendo' #
found the text of the gospels. which is
known 10Y under the name of tho Codex
Sinaticus.
MI. Grad learned that while the monks
were friendly and hospitable they accepted
entertain ent. The convent is now very
poor and subsists largely on aims. There
are only thirteen monks. most of them M
tives of the Greoian isles, and we'll ad-
vunced in years. Their white boards of
unusual length give them a venerable as
pset. Fresh blood is introduced now and
then, and when Mr.. Grad visited the mon-
astery in 1886 two young men had just
ar lived, having consscrated themselves to
the life of. pious isolation. Few buildings
in civilized lands are az old az some of the
structures within these walls. } he monas-
to y was founded in the sixth century, and
the church. built during that epoch, is still
standing. Its corner stone, the inscription
says, was laid in the year 527 A. D.. by Jus
tinian and his wife Theodore.
Behind tho church, sheltered from the
sun, are the wells which provide the mon
astery with fresh and limpid water. 40
cordiag to the monks, Moses aided the
daughters OF JethrO to water their tlocks at
this fountain.
Mr.. Grad climbed to the top of Sinai. A
rude stairway of about 5000 steps, made of
pieces of rock placed one above another
lead to the top. There is also a moro Dir
cuitous route, which some tourists prefer to
the atespsr climb. On the way up the path
is an ancient chapel, conseorated to the
Virgin. which illustrates one of the numer-
GUS legends of which tho old mountain ia
the subject. 1t il said that in tho early
days OF the monastery the monks were
driven out of the convent by an invasion of
heas. They rstreased to the top of the
mountain, where the virgin met them.
ordered them to return to she convent, and
promised to deliver them from their enc
mics. The monks obeyed, and not a flea
could be found when they re-entsred the
monastery. 1t is proper to add that the
teas have returned.
Two more little ohapsls are along the
steep path. They are dedicated to the
prophets, Elijah and Elisha. In the chapel
of Elijah tho monks show a crevice in the
rock where tho prophet, it is said. retired
after the Staying Of the priests of Baal. On
the top OF the mountain are Greek and Mo-
chapels, for the mountain ia AN
object Of venerAtion to Christians and the
Of ISLAM. Aohammed visited the
mountain, and from It's summit. it has been
said. he was translated to heaven. On this
spot minRle tho traditions of the Bible and
the Koran, and this barren rock has an i'm
portnnt place in tho history Of the descend
ants of Isaac and Ishmasl.