Work
on restoring the library of St Catherine's Monastery began in 2014. Written By / Nevine
El-Aref.
Minister
of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany, South Sinai Governor Major General Khaled
Fouda, and St Catherine's Monastery Archbishop Dimetriose have inaugurated the
first phase of the St Catherine's Library conservation project, including
restoration of the Mosaic of Transfiguration.
The
opening ceremony was attended by a number of ministers along with members of
parliament and ambassadors of foreign countries in Egypt, as well as
representatives of Pope Tawadros II and Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb.
El-Enany
described St Catherine's as "a source of inspiration that radiated across
civilisation, both regionally and globally." He added: "St
Catherine's Monastery combines Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This is what we
could call the genius of Egypt and its reflection on the harmony between its
components and its great people."
The
monastery was registered as a world heritage site since 2002. "I would
like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the distinguished audience and
would also like to express my great gratitude to all those who contributed to
this work and to your generous support,” El-Enany said.
“I am very happy to share in the inauguration
of the restored library, which is the third library ever in the world,” Major
General Fouda said in a press conference held at the monastery today.
Mohamed
Abdellatif, assistant to the minister of antiquities and head of the Coptic and
Islamic Antiquities sector at the ministry, told Ahram Online that conservation
work was carried out under the supervision of the ministry with funds provided
by the monastery.
The
restoration project began in 2014 after approval of the Permanent Committee of
Islamic and Coptic Antiquities. It includes the development of the eastern side
of the library, upgrading the architecture of the library facade as well as
consolidating and conserving the Justinian Wall, which dates back to the 6th
century AD.
Abdellatif
pointed out that the ministry announced a month ago that during conservation
work restorers uncovered the "Palmist" manuscript, which dates back
to the fifth or sixth century AD.
It is a manuscript written on leather and
shows medical texts from Hippocrates, as well as three other medical texts by
an unknown writer. As for the Mosaic of Transfiguration, he explained that an
Italian-Egyptian team headed by Italian expert Nardi Guviani carried out
restoration of the Mosaic.
Ahmed
Al-Nimr, a member of the Scientific Office of the ministry of antiquities, said
that the mosaic is one of the oldest and most beautiful and largest mosaics in
the Middle East. It dates to the ninth century AD. It covers a surface of about
46 square metres, painted with precious materials such as gold and silver.
The
mosaic includes an image of Jesus and the prophet Elijah and the prophet Moses.
Below, the prophets John and Jacob prostrate. The mosaic is surrounded by 31
medallions containing pictures of messengers and prophets, in addition to two
medallions representing Jonah and the Virgin Mary.
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