Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-04-19
rHE MOUNT Oh xo>rS.
MONKS ON TuE ELUpts OF SINAI
WHERE rilE LAW WAS OWEN.

TUE MOUNT Uf AONlN.
MONKS uN ruE SLOWS or SINAI
WHERE rnE LAW WAS OWEN.
Mr.. Chnrlrs Grad "a the latest tray.
uler to Mount sinai and ~ famous
monastery, where ~ few monks VI
the Greek church lead gu hollted NE.
The mountain 10 called also Mount
iiDfeh, aud its Arabic name W Dltbsl
MOusn, or Mount Uf Moss. The story
~ MrGrsl's visit 10 the sacred noun.
tain IL published ia Lc iOvr de Monde
aud illu'trated with Views ulthc sandy
desert aud turten mountains OF tie
SINAI peninsula. Sinal BE- not visited
often by lraveiefs, say- iho New York
yum. Some scholars who have Explored
the mountains assert that one o. au.
other summit Il mole likely g. have
been the Sinai OF the Jews than the
mountain which The q csk monks be.
llevr was the cmlutupp that wnH
wrapped IN cloud anu smoke aud shook
with ,huuiers as MOses n.ccudrd II.
Most ot the auihoritieH, however, sc.
cent the tradition which mal,s4 tie
mountain on whose side the monastery
stands the true Sinai.
There b. 10 settlement for many
miles around. II j. rcgioH OF raudy
valleys aud bald granite mountains.
On nll sides Of the monastery rise
naked hills NJ gray stone. There isuJt
q particle Of vegetation except In tho
garden adjoining the IN mastery. here
tho TOPS W few cypress trees rise
above the walls. The time was when
strangers were raised iutl the mon.
nsigry Ivy means ~ n pulley. Now.
however, tho gate Il kent open. The
monks no longer have 10 contend with
enemies NJ Ia earlier DAYS. when the
Arabs sought TO annihilhtr them.
Within the lofty walls af. several
buildings separated by marrow, dark
alleys. The walls are pierced Tor
muiErt ami cannon, ami lev cannon
are mounted on them. They are OBJ.
jects OF curiosity, but could do little
harm 10 an enemy. The two most
conspicuous buildings are the church
and the chapel Of the Burning Bush,
where, according to the local tradition,
God spoke to Moses. The library was
once very rich In Treasures, but its
rareSt manuscripts have been carried
away. There lischendorf found the
known under the name Of the Csdex
Sinaiticup.
Mr.. Grad learned that while the
monks were lrieudly and hofpitahln
they accepted with pleasure the money
ne offered for bic entertainment. The
convent is now very poor and consists
largely On aims. There are only thir.
teen monks, most Of them natives OF
the Greclan islrs and well advanced In
years. Their white boards Of unusual
length give them venerable aspcct
Fresh blood II introduced now aud
then, and when Mr.. Grad visited tho
monastery IN 1855 two young mon had
Just arrived, having cousecrated them.
soivos 10 the life " plous Isolation.
Few buildings In civilized lands arc as
old NJ some Of the structures within
these walls. The monastery was
founded In the sixth century and the
church built during that epoch Is
standing. Its cornerstone. the inscrlp.
ton says, was laid Ia the year 5g7 4
ID. by Justinian and his wife Theu.
dora.
Far from the world, this handful of
gave men give themselves 10 tie
contemplation Of the things OF etern.
ity, They have renOunced the plessur,s
Of life and are devoted TO their monal.
tic duties. When visitor enters The
church he Is required 10 take oil his
shoes. Three silver lamps are burning
always. Ina safc0phagus Of marble
are the head anu one arm OF ~. Cathe- |
rine. The Russian Christians sent the
10 receive the relies OF the |
saint. a present from the Impress
Catherine uf Russia IL exhibited also.
IL is a silver Image Of the patruuess Of |
Tho monastery, her lace aud hands be.
Ing Of enamel.
Behind tue church, sheltered from
The sun, are the wells which provide
he monastery with fresh and linuld
water. According u the monks, Moses
aided the daughters Of JethrO 10 water
heir Hooks at this fountain.
Mr.. Grad climbed to the top OF Sinai,
A rude stairway of about 5000 stepR.
made OF pieces oil rock placed one above
another, led Ia the top. There is ALEC a 7
more clrcuil0us route, which some tour.
sis prefer TO the sleeper climb. On the |
way up the path Is an ancient chapel,
'onseorated 10 the Virgin, which Mus.
rates ono OF tue numerous legonds of
which the old mountain is the subject,
Il IL said that IN the early days OF the |
the monks were driven out
lrthe. convent by an Invasion Of Hea-.
lhey retreated 10 the top OF the noun.
aln, where the virgin met them, or.
Tered thom to return ~ the convent
'nd promised 10 deliver them from their
iuemios. The monks obeyed, and no,
llea could bee found when they re.rn.
cred the monastery. 1t Is roper 10
'dd that the ilcHs lave returned.
Two more little ohapels are along IA,
teep path. Thoy are dedicated 10 al,
PROPHETS Elijah aud Elisha. la IN
'hapel If Elijah the monks show a
'rovice In the rock where the prophet
I Is said, utirld H,ter the Shaving oi
he priests of Basl. On the ton ofth,
mountain are Greek aud Muhaninednp
'hnpels, for the mountain h an object
Il veneratIou 10 Christians ana the fol. |
owors OF ISLAM. Mohammod ylsltvs
he mountain, and from It's summI n
ms been said he was translated IN
lenyeu. On this spot mingle tho ira.
'i,ions Of tho Bible and the Koran. md
his barren rock has AN important plac,