St Catherine And Dahab From Sharm El Sheikh

After 2.5 hours of minibus with two stops in the highways for physiological needs we arrived in view of this beautiful building! From a distance almost an impregnable fortress at the foot of Mount Oreb : another 300 meters on foot slightly uphill and finally we have passed the gate that leads into the citadel! A quick visit to the biblical “burning bush” of Moses and finally entrance to the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria! And here is the great disappointment: 8 square meters within which to move without being able to see closely the various relics to which the guide had given wide prominence.... Nothing could be seen because the local monks are Orthodox and we Roman Catholics (at least this is the meager explanation given to our protests)! Only the crucifix of Christ the pantocrator could be glimpsed half-hidden by the dozens of brass lamps dropped from the ceiling.... very little for those who have endured 5 hours of desert under a scorching sun at 45 degrees! A heritage of culture, religion and spirituality should not be reserved for a privileged select few!

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