“I think the monastery was using [these presses] to make the holy wine, because it’s near to Mount Moses [Mount Sinai],” El-Naggar said, referring to the site where some believe the prophet Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.”
The Mohammedan has it about half right. Certainly the monks made the wine for the Eucharist; they also made it for drinking everyday. The fact that the monks made it at Sinai didn’t make it any more holy than wine made at any other monastery then or now. They made it there because that’s where they were!
Of course! But this article is from National Geographic - and they want to introduce some intrigue.
Since reading Journey Back to Eden, the Egypt monasteries have taken on a new and fuller meaning.
Monk striking the wooden bell in the Bell Tower. The metal bells are only used on holy days and just before the holy liturgy
A Semandron is used to call the Monks to morning prayer
Too bad the web site does not have an imbeded .wav file :-)