Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-06-09
SNAPS FAMOUS MOUNT.

Greek Monks OH the Slope Where Mos.
es Received the Law.
Mr.. Charles Grad is the latest tray.
eler to Mount Sinai and its famous
monastery, where a few monks OF the
Greek church lead an isolated life. The
mountain is also called Mount Horeb.
and it's Arabic name is Diebel b1uca,
or Mount OF Moses. The story of Mr..
Grads visit to the sacred mountain
is published in LIE Tour du Monde and
is illustrated with views OF the SANDY
desert and barren mountains OF the
Sinai peninsula. Sinai is not visited
often by travellers. Some schola who
have explored the mountains assert
that one or another summit is more
likely to have been the Sinai OF the
Jews than the mountain which the
Greek monks believe was the eminence
that was wrapped in cloud and smoke
and shook with thunders as Mos IS as.
cended it. Most OF the authorities.
however, accept the tradition which
makes the mountain on which the
monastery stands the true Sinai.
There is no settlement for MANY
miles around. 1t is region of sandy
valleys and bald granite mountains.
On all sides OF the monastery rise
naked hills OF gray stone. There is
not a particle OF vegetation except in
the garden adjoining the monastery,
where the tops OF few cypress trees
rise above the walls. The time was
when strangers were raised into the
monastery by means OF pulley.
Now, however, the gate is kept open.
The monks no longer have to contend
with enemies as in earlier days, when
the Arabs sought to annihilate them.
Within the lofty walls are several
buildings separated by narrow, dark
alleys. The walls are pierced for
muskets and cannon, and few can.
non are mounted on them. They are
objects OF curiosity, but could do
little harm to an enemy. The two
most conspicuous buildings are the
church and the chapel OF the Burding
Bush, were, according to the local
tradition, God spoke to Moses. The
library was once very riceln treasures,
but its rarest manuscripts have been
carried away. There Tischendorf
found the text OF the Gospels which is
known now under the name OF theI
Codex Sinaiticus.
Mr.. Grad learned that while the
monks were friendly and hospitable
they accepted with pleasure the money
he offered for his entertainment. The
convent is now very poor, and subsists
largely on aims. There are only thir.
teen monks, most of them natives OF
the Grecian Isles, and we'll advanced
in years. Their white boards OF un-
usual length give them a venerable
aspect. Fresh blood is introduced
now and then, and when Mr.. Grad
visited the monastry in 1886 two
young men had just arrived, having
consecrated themselves to the life Of
pious isolation. Few buildings in civil
lied lands are SO old as some of the
structures within these walls. The
monastry was founded in hesixuh CEN
tury, and the church, uiltduring that
epoch, is standing. Its corner stone,
the inscription says, was laidin the
year 527 A. D., BY Justinian, and his
wife Theodore.
Far from the world, this handful of :
grave men give themselves to the con.
temptation OF the things OF eternity.
They have reaounced the pleasures OF
life and are devoted to their monastic
duties. When q visitor enters the
church he is required to take off his
shoes. Three silver lamps are burns
ing always. Ina sarcophagus OF mar
BILE are the head and one arm OF St.
Catharine. The Russian Christians
sent the sarcophagus to receive the
relics OF the saint. A present from
the Empress Catherine OF Russia is ex-
hlblted also. It is q silver image OF
the patroness of the monastery, her i,
face and hands being of enamel.
Behind the church, sheltered from
the sun, are the wells which provide
the monastery with fresh, limpid
water. According to the monks,
Moses aided the daughters OF JethrQn
to water their focks at this fountain
Mr.. Grad climbed to the top OF Sinai.
A rude stairway OF about 3,O0Osteps,
made of pieces OF rock placed one
ABOVE another, lead to the top. There
is also a more circuitous route, which
some tourists prefer to the sleeper
climb. On the way up the path is an
ancient chapel, consec1 ated to the Vir-
gin which illustrates one of the numer.
GUS legends of which the old mountain
is the subject. It is said that in the
early days OF the Monastery the
monks were driven out of the convent.
by an invasion OF heas. They retreat:
Ok to the top of the mountain, where
the Virgin met. them, ordered them to
return to the convent, and promised
to deliver them from their enemies.
The monks obeyed, aud not a flea
could be found when they -e.entered
the monastery. 1t is proper to add
that the aeas have returned,
Two more little chapels are along
the street path. They are dedicated
to the prophets Elijah and Elisha.
In the Chpr,al NJ Elijah rho mon ko