The Living Waters in the Desert "He turns a desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into water springs." (Psalm 107.35)

The Living Waters in the Desert

"He turns a desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into water springs." (Psalm 107.35)

Today we remember the beloved Elder Paisius of Mount Athos, who was canonized three years ago on January, 13th 2015. The Orthodox Church commemorates his feast day on July 12, when he fell asleep in the Lord in 1994. The Elder spent several years in St. Catherine’s on Mount Sinai in the early 1960-s, where he dwelt for a time at the hermitage of St. Epistimi high above the Monastery.

(Please, see the Documentary about the Sinai life of Elder Paisius in our FB Video Library or on the FMSM web site: www.mountsinaimonastery.org/…/new-video-on-st-paisios-time-…)

“On 30 September 1962 the elder departed to the God-Trodden Mountain. When Fr. Paisius arrived at Sinai, there was a severe drought. Under natural conditions, rains are extremely rare in this place. However, the year when elder arrived, there was an especially acute shortage of water. The monastery was preparing a caravan of camels in order to bring water from far away. The elder said, “Wait, do not leave for water today.” He prayed all night. ... Finally, it rained. …”

Hieromonk Isaak, Life Account of Elder Paisius of the Holy Mountain, Chapter 8 “Hermit on the God-Trodden Mount Sinai ”.

“When praying for rain, I see at least one rain cloud appearing in the sky, and then I praise God for sending it. It may not even rain, and my conscience admonishes me that I myself have many spiritual thunder clouds that drive away God’s clouds. If we keep asking humbly for God’s mercy, God will help us. In time of drought, the prayer of a humble man gathers rain clouds. Let us always pray that the rain that God sends us has a spiritual effect as well - that it would extinguish the spiritual wildfire raging in the world through the devil’s malice and burning people’s souls.”

Elder Paisius of the Holy Mountain. The Words. Vol. I. With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man

(From the Video)

At the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ in the waters of the Jordan at the Feast of Theophany, not only human nature, but all waters and the entire creation are made new.

Following the lengthy services of Theophany, Sinai monks take the Great Holy Waters of the feast throughout the wilderness to sanctify even the most remote desert hermitages, such as the chapel atop Mount St. Catherine where the Saint's relic was discovered, a five hour climb from the Monastery.

This pool which was caused by an unusual rainfall was photographed along that path, near the rock which gushed water when struck by Moses during the Exodus, saving the Hebrew people from perishing in the desert.

Christian Orthodox thus venerate God's ability to transfigure every sorrow by crossing themselves in thanksgiving before drinking water.

 Friends of Mount Sinai Monastery