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A transplanted descendant of the burning bush is enshrined in The Holy Monastery of the God-trodden Mount Sinai, known as St Catherine’s monastery (www.sinaimonastery.com) , which nestles in a valley at the foot of Mount Sinai (view photos), surrounded by high walls and lush gardens. The Holy Monastery is a Greek Orthodox foundation, its origins dating back to 337AD when the Byzantine Empress Helena ordered the construction of a chapel around the Burning Bush, which already had become a focus for hermits and pilgrimages from the 4th Century.

The growing importance of the sacred site is reflected in the decision of Emperor Justinian to erect a fortified enclosure and basilica at the foot of Mount Sinai on the site of the Burning Bush in the mid 6th century, as well as supplying two hundred guards to protect the monastery from whom the Jebeliya Bedouin claim descent. The ancient basilica has preserved many of its sixth century features, among them the famous ancient mosaic of the Transfiguration in the apse, which has been recently restored. The monastery’s current name is in honour of St Catherine after her body was found five centuries after her martyrdom in the 4th century on the top of the mountain which is named after her.

There is a large ancient library (view photos) of over three thousand manuscripts and five thousand books, which is only surpassed by the library at the Vatican. There is also an impressive collection of icons, which represent all periods of Byzantium and later. Some of the famous icons most closely associated with Sinai are Moses receiving the Ten Commandments with the Burning Bush just before his feet and the icon of the Heavenly Ladder of St John Climacus : the text of the Heavenly Ladder was written in the 7th century by the Sinai monk and later abbot of the nearby monastery whose name it bears.

Since its establishment, the Monastery has maintained an unbroken relationship with the local Bedouin tribes. Six Bedouin tribes inhabit the south Sinai area today. The tribe of Jebeliya has always been closely attached to the monastery and its members have repeatedly protected it from conquerors’ invasions. The Jebeliya are the descendants of the two hundred families brought by Justinian in the 6th century from Anatolia and Alexandria in order to build the monastery, as well as guard, defend and assist the monks Even after their Islamization in the 7th century, the Jebeliya have always maintained very close, harmonious and trustful relations with the monastery.

All the Bedouin are Arabic speaking Moslems. Their families live in homesteads in the desert surrounding the Monastery. In spite of differences of religion, language and culture, there exists an amazing reciprocity of support, help and assistance between the monks and the Bedouin. Many of the Bedouin are employed in various tasks to help with the upkeep and the running of the Monastery. In turn, the monks support the Bedouins in series medical problems, assist them with food and housing and offer relief in financial emergencies.

For the last 20 years, Father Moses, who is now 72, has lived in a hermitage (view photos) on the mountain, a 30 minutes’ walk from the Monastery. He was able to live among the Bedouins and became really attached, and deeply sympathised, with them and wanted to help them pastorally and practically, like all the holy fathers of the monastery.

With the blessings of the Reverend Archbishop Damianos in 2003, Father Moses began to implement his vision for a better and more decent future for these people, and to relieve the extreme poverty and hardship experienced by many of the families. He began to think of ways to support especially the women, seeking to offer them opportunities to work beyond their family obligations, thus enabling them to earn a living and to actively facilitate their own ability to improve their situation and that of their families.

Father Moses’ vision is also a wonderful example of the close and very successful ‘brotherly’ co-operation and collaboration between the monks and the Bedouin on a specific project, which reflects the close, harmonious and trustful relations that has existed between them for the past seventeen centuries. The contemplative spirituality network is fully supportive of Father Moses vision and untiring effort, alongside all the Holy monks, to help the local Bedouin people. We are closely working in support of him and alongside his international team of volunteers on developing the project.

The Bedouin women have long tradition in needlework and textiles’. Today, thanks to Father Moses tireless efforts, over 500 women of various tribes are now able to preserve and develop their ancient art and crafts traditions of needlework and weaving, which was in grave danger of extinction. There are now 18 fully equipped workshops for needlework and weaving, and another 15 workshops with looms (view photos). Since they are all located in or near the homes of individual families, this kind of work supports, rather than disrupts, the traditional lifestyle of the Bedouin.

Dozens of Bedouin women, mostly young girls, are seeking employment in these workshops, but full collaboration is only in its infancy, due to difficulties in the sales and marketing of their traditional handicrafts which Father Moses is facilitating. Numerous Greek volunteers and other volunteers from other countries are embracing Father Moses project like an unbroken human chain in helping this traditional handicraft project to develop and grow.

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Constant formation of over 500 new jobs for the Bedouin women today

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Creation and outfit of new handicraft workshops

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Economic and practical assistance to the poorest families, and women with large families, by building new houses and adding rooms to existing houses.

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Improving water supply works which aim at providing settlements with drinkable water

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Opening up new roads in the inaccessible areas in the desert where the more remote tribes live

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Purchase of camels for the occupation of young Bedouins in tourism

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Provision of extended medical care