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Δευτέρα 15 Ιανουαρίου 2018
"Figures of prayer and contemplation amid the wilderness of the desert…brethren gathered from far lands, each of them 'like a sparrow alone upon the house top' (Psalm 101.8). Yet they are not alone …" - from an essay by Archbishop Damianos
"Figures of prayer and contemplation amid the
wilderness of the desert…brethren gathered from far lands, each of them 'like a
sparrow alone upon the house top' (Psalm 101.8). Yet they are not alone …"
- from an essay by Archbishop Damianos
FMSM THIRD YEAR REPORT
Dear friends of the Monastery,
As we approach the third anniversary of the launch of
FMSM on the Feast of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sinai (January 14/27), we would
like to convey the heartfelt appreciation that the Fathers of St. Catherine's
have often expressed for all who have been so kind to send donations. The
Fathers are praying for your health and well-being.
Monastery Secretary Father Nyphon recently sent the
best wishes of all the Fathers to the Friends for a blessed Nativity Season and
New Year, with the following:
"Thank you for your plentiful love and continued
help for the Monastery of Saint Catherine's. From our hearts, we wish for God
and Saint Catherine to reward all of you both in this life and the other true
life."
Your donations have gone a long way to help the
Monastery. As of Dec 15, 2017, FMSM received $39,079 in donations for the year.
As of that date, we had transferred $38,811 to the bank account of St.
Catherine's Monastery (including some donations from late 2016), with plans to
transfer remaining funds once we have a larger amount to wire to them. Your
full donations are sent to the Monastery, since FMSM's staff is volunteer and
all expenses are paid for by board members.
This year's donation went for further work on the
repair project for cells in the wing housing the Monastery library, as well as
for medical expenses (a large portion of the funds for the latter came from a
special donor). As we have indicated before, the monks felt it was imperative
to start repairing the decayed structures in that wing, where most of the
community lives, even though the economy for the area has been down because of
the decline in visitors. In spite of the April attack on a police checkpoint
about a half a mile from St. Catherine's, the Monastery continues its peaceful
way of life undisturbed.
The monks have made a great deal of progress, but more
work remains to complete still active construction. Old plumbing, which had
developed leaks both in the rooms and within the walls, has been replaced. They
have started installing insulation and sheetrock in the ceilings, wall
consolidation, and placing new wall facings.
Currently, they are installing new windows and doors
(as the wood on the old ones was deteriorating), building brick interior walls,
continuing installation of insulation and sheet rock covering, and putting in
additional wiring for inside lights. They will then need to build wooden
structures on the inside of the cells. Pictures are available at
http://www.mountsinaimonastery.org/news-b…/third-year-report.
While donations are up 30% from last year, the total
is still a fraction of the costs of maintaining St. Catherine’s fortress-like
structure, while keeping the Monastery open to the public, and still remaining
cognizant of the needs of the surrounding Bedouin. Nevertheless, it is a
beginning!
Many say that a visit to Mount Sinai never ends. FMSM
thus hopes to be instrumental in the creation of a steady economic base to
support the needs of the Monastery that has been so responsive to the needs of
others, both close to home and across the globe. Currently, monthly automatic
payments total $525, so we have some way to go to fulfilling this objective.
If you would like to assist in the efforts to help the
Monastery, please tell your friends about St. Catherine's and FMSM. One way to
bring the news to a wider audience is by liking/sharing our posts on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/Friends-of-Mount-Sinai-Monastery-909870469…). This prompts
the site to publicize our posts to more readers.
With a documented track record of accountability after
three years now in operation, FMSM is moving toward exploring opportunities of
corporate sponsorship for St. Catherine’s global influence on world culture and
peace. If anyone has experience in this sector to assist such an effort, your
input would be appreciated; please feel free to contact us:
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