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See - Sada Elbalad
2 days ago
- General
- See - Sada Elbalad
All You Need to Know about St. Catherine Monastery: History, Court Ruling, Official Response
Rana Atef In recent hours, Saint Catherine's Monastery has drawn global attention following a court ruling concerning the ownership of its surrounding lands. There is no doubt that the monastery holds a special place in the hearts of Egyptians, not only for its profound historical and religious significance but also as a symbol of national heritage. Located in Sinai, the monastery continues to be a major destination for both religious and cultural tourism. History Saint Catherine's Monastery, whose official name is the 'Sacred Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount Sinai," was built by the order of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in 548–565 AD in order to house the monks that had been living in the Sinai Peninsula since the 4th century AD. The name of the monastery came after the Saint Catherine of Alexandria was martyred in the early 4th century AD. The monastery carries her name because its monks discovered her body on nearby Mount Saint Catherine in the 9th century AD, where it had been deposited by angels after her martyrdom. The monastery encompasses multiple structures, the most important of which is the Church of the Transfiguration of Christ the Savior, which itself contains nine smaller churches. One of these is the Church of the Burning Bush, from which God had spoken to the prophet Moses. Saint Catherine's Monastery also includes ten other churches, the monks' accommodations, a refectory, an olive press, ossuaries, a Fatimid mosque from the 12th century AD, and a library that boasts rare books and 6,000 manuscripts. The monastery's library, established between 527 and 565, is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the oldest continuously operating library in the world. It holds the second-largest collection of early manuscripts and texts in the world, surpassed only by the Vatican Library. Lagal Dispute The legal dispute began in 2015. Two days ago, the Ismailia Court of Appeals issued its ruling regarding the disputed lands in South Sinai, affirming the right of those affiliated with Saint Catherine's Monastery to utilize the monastery and its religious heritage sites, while maintaining state ownership of these locations as public property. The court ruled that the contracts between the local authority and the monastery regarding certain utilized lands must be respected, denying any encroachment. It also confirmed that the remaining disputed lands are natural reserves and public property of the state, which cannot be sold or acquired through prescription, and no contracts have been signed concerning them. What Does the Ruling Mean? Abdel Rahim Rihan, a member of the "History and Antiquities Committee" at the Supreme Council of Culture, told Asharq Al-Awsat that "there is absolutely no crisis regarding the court ruling; on the contrary, it is a victory for the value of antiquities and their preservation, and a triumph for us as Egyptian archaeologists. The ruling confirmed that the monastery and its associated lands fall under the Antiquities Law and are overseen by the Supreme Council of Antiquities. The monastery's residents have the right to use the land, but ownership remains with the state, as these are religious archaeological sites administratively affiliated with the Greek Church yet registered as part of Egypt's world heritage, owned by the Egyptian state". Rihan added that 'this refutes any claims that authorities will evacuate the monastery for development projects. Such actions are not possible with a registered heritage site.' He further explained that 'the ruling also clarified that there are remote lands far from the monastery for which the monks possess no ownership or usufruct contracts. The court ruled these lands fall under the jurisdiction of the nature reserves in South Sinai. Therefore, if authorities wish to do anything with them, they must obtain approval from the Nature Reserves Authority and the Ministry of Environment. In any case, these areas are completely distant from the archaeological zones and the monastery itself.' He stressed that 'However, both history and the court ruling confirm that this land is owned by the Egyptian state, with its protection guaranteed as a registered heritage site.' In addition, Egyptian Member of Parliament Ehab Ramzy, who was among the lawyers who represented the monastery earlier, told CNN Arabic that the recent court ruling regarding the conflict between the monastery and South Sinai Governorate has effectively ended a years-long legal battle. The court affirmed the monastery's right to use the land. He added to CNN Arabic that the court confirmed the monastery's lands are archaeological sites registered on UNESCO's World Heritage List, meaning they cannot be privately owned, but can be lawfully used, a position that aligns with both Egyptian and international law. He continued that the ruling has reinforced the legal and religious status of the monastery and has permanently closed the door on the dispute. Official Response On Thursday, the Egyptian Presidency reaffirmed its full commitment to preserving the unique and sacred religious status of Saint Catherine's Monastery, stressing that this status will not be compromised in any way, as it is an integral part of both Egypt's and the world's religious and spiritual heritage. Presidential Spokesman Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy stated that the recent court ruling represents a legal reinforcement of the monastery's distinguished status. He added that the ruling aligns with what President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasized during his official visit to Athens on May 7, where he underlined the importance of safeguarding shared religious and historical heritage. The presidency also highlighted the deep-rooted, fraternal relations between Egypt and Greece, emphasizing the need to maintain and strengthen these ties in the interest of both nations, while reiterating that these historic bonds must remain untouched. After a few hours, in response to a query from the Middle East News Agency regarding the court ruling issued on May 28 concerning the lands surrounding Saint Catherine's Monastery, and the rumors circulating about the confiscation of the monastery and its affiliated lands, the official spokesperson for Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that such claims are entirely unfounded. A full review of the court ruling reveals the following key points: 1. No Threat to the Monastery or Its Sacred Status The spokesperson emphasized that there is absolutely no infringement on Saint Catherine's Monastery, its affiliated archaeological sites, its spiritual value, or its religious cemeteries. In fact, this court decision marks the first legal codification of the monastery's status and a reaffirmation of the preservation of its sacred position. 2. Continued Usufruct Rights for the Monks While some additional sites fall within natural reserves and have contracts signed with local authorities, the court recognized the monastery's spiritual and religious importance, and therefore upheld the right of the monks to continue using the religious and archaeological areas. 3. Remote State Lands Confirmed The court ruling also identified some remote and uninhabited areas within natural reserves, far from the monastery, for which no documents of ownership or usufruct were presented. These lands have thus been confirmed as public property of the Egyptian state. The spokesperson stressed the importance of accuracy in reporting and warned against forming premature judgments without reviewing the complete text of the ruling. He also highlighted the need to preserve the deep, historical, and brotherly relations between Egypt and Greece, which stretch back centuries. On Friday, Dr. Badr Abdel Aaty, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration, met with European ambassadors in Cairo, where he provided a detailed briefing on the court ruling issued on May 28 regarding the lands surrounding Saint Catherine's Monastery. Abdel Aaty emphasized that the court ruling explicitly confirmed that there would be no infringement upon Saint Catherine's Monastery, its affiliated archaeological sites, spiritual significance, religious status, or monastic cemeteries. He noted that this is the first time a court ruling formally preserves the legal and sacred status of the monastery. He also referred to a phone call held earlier that day between President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during which the President reaffirmed Egypt's full commitment to safeguarding the unique and sacred religious status of Saint Catherine's Monastery, with no compromise on that position. The Foreign Minister added that the ruling not only protects the monastery's religious and spiritual value but also ensures the continued right of the monks to use the monastery and the surrounding religious and archaeological areas. Abdel Aaty pointed out that efforts will be made to reach an agreement to settle the status of certain lands between local authorities and the monastery. He also stressed the need for accurate reporting and avoiding premature or misleading interpretations, especially in light of false rumors about the confiscation of the monastery and its lands. He reiterated the strategic importance of Egyptian-Greek relations, which are grounded in centuries of deep-rooted historical and fraternal ties. On Friday, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's full commitment to preserving the unique and sacred religious status of Saint Catherine's Monastery and stressed that this status would not be altered in any way. The recent court ruling further solidifies this position, aligning with Egypt's long-standing dedication to safeguarding religious and ecclesiastical sites, as well as affirming the monastery's cultural, spiritual, and religious significance. Presidential Spokesman Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy stated that during a phone call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, President El-Sisi emphasized the strong momentum in Egypt-Greece relations, underscoring the mutual commitment to further enhancing the strategic partnership between the two countries in various fields, in line with their historical ties and to the benefit of both nations' peoples. The Presidency had earlier reiterated its unwavering commitment to preserving the sacred religious status of Saint Catherine's Monastery, emphasizing that this status will not be compromised in any way, as it is an inseparable part of Egypt's and the world's religious and spiritual heritage. Ambassador El-Shenawy also highlighted that the recent court ruling legally affirms the monastery's distinguished position and aligns with President El-Sisi's remarks during his official visit to Athens on May 7, where the President emphasized the importance of preserving shared religious and historical heritage. The Presidency underscored the importance of the close and brotherly ties between Egypt and Greece, calling for the preservation and enhancement of these historic relations to serve the mutual interests of both nations while reiterating that these long-standing bonds must remain untouched. read more 2 Most Inspirational Green Projects in Egypt AEW Dynamite, WWE NXT to Strive over Viewership Tonight Egypt Marks 70th Anniv. of 2011 Revolution, National Police Day In Depth: WWE NXT Halloween Havoc In Depth: AEW Dynamite, WWE NXT Tuesday Viewership Strive Videos & Features WATCH: Egyptians Break Ramadan Fasts in Matariya Videos & Features GrEEk Campus Hosts Jobzella Fifth Career Fair Videos & Features 3 Iconic Ramadan Songs of All Times Videos & Features Top 4 Destinations to Visit in Upper Egypt News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
How the bubonic plague has survived for centuries
The catastrophic loss of life at the hands of a single bacterium during the 14th century remains one of human history's most devastating events. Yersinia pestis–the bacterium that causes bubonic plague–managed to survive for centuries by adjusting its severity and the length of time it takes to kill its hosts. Despite that virulence, some forms of plague did ultimately die out. Now, scientists have documented the way that one single gene in Yersinia pestis made it so adaptable. The findings are described in a study published May 29 in the journal Science. [ Related: Bubonic plague discovered in ancient Egyptian mummy DNA. ] According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are three types of plague. Which type that you have depends on where in your body Yersinia pestis ends up. Bubonic plague infects the lymph nodes, septicemic plague is in the blood, and pneumonic plague affects the lungs. Yersinia pestis itself is a bacterium with some deep historical roots and has caused three major pandemics in recorded human history. The Plague of Justinian in the mid-500s is the first recorded plague pandemic in human history. It is named for Justinian I, the Byzantine emperor at that time, and it devastated the Mediterranean region. Mortality estimates vary between 25 million and 100 million deaths. It killed roughly 40 percent of Constantinople's (now Istanbul) population, which was the most important center of cultural and political life in the world. at the time. It eventually led to the second plague pandemic–the Black Death in the 14th century. The Black Death is still the deadliest pandemic in recorded human history, killing 30 to 50 percent of the population in Europe, Western Asia, and Africa. The disease re-emerged in several waves over more than 500 years and persisted in that form until 1840. The third plague pandemic began in China in 1855 and continues today. Antibiotics have significantly helped treat the disease, but its impacts are still felt in parts of Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where cases are regularly reported. Strains of the original Justinian plague went extinct after 300 years of wreaking havoc on European and Middle Eastern populations. The strains that caused the Black Death emerged from infected rodents before it broke into two major lineages. One of these two lineages is the ancestor of the present-day strains, while the other strain re-emerged over centuries in Europe and went extinct by the early 19th century. 'This is one of the first research studies to directly examine changes in an ancient pathogen, one we still see today, in an attempt to understand what drives the virulence, persistence and/or eventual extinction of pandemics,' Hendrik Poinar, a study co-author and molecular evolutionary geneticist and biological anthropologist at McMaster University in Canada, said in a statement. In the new study, the team used hundreds of samples from ancient and modern plague victims. They screened the samples for a gene known as pla. This gene helps Yersinia pestis move through the body's immune system undetected by the lymph nodes before it spreads to the rest of the body. The genetic analysis revealed that its copy number–the total number of pla genes found in the bacterium–actually decreased in the later plague outbreaks. This decreased mortality by about 20 percent, while increasing the length of infection. The hosts typically lived longer before they died. These studies were performed in mice models of bubonic plague, according to the team. When the pla gene was in its original, high copy number, the disease was much more virulent. It killed all of its hosts and did so much quicker. Additionally, the team also pinpointed a similarity between the trajectories of both modern and ancient strains. These strains independently evolved similar reductions in the pla gene during the later stages of the first and second plague pandemics and in three samples from the third pandemic that were uncovered in present day Vietnam. In both the Justinian plague from the 500s and the Black Death, the evolutionary change occurred approximately 100 years after the first outbreaks. The team believes that when the gene copy number dropped and the infected rats lived longer, the rodents could spread infection farther. This spread helped ensure the pathogen's reproductive success. 'The reduction of pla may reflect the changing size and density of rodent and human populations,' explained Poinar. 'It's important to remember that plague was an epidemic of rats, which were the drivers of epidemics and pandemics. Humans were accidental victims.' Due to their high numbers and proximity to humans, the black rats in cities likely acted as 'amplification hosts.' Since these black rats are highly susceptible to Yersinia pestis themselves, the pathogen needed the rat populations to stay high enough to supply new hosts for Yersinia pestis to persist and allow the natural pandemic cycle to continue. [ Related: DNA from plague victims' teeth may unravel the origin of Black Death. ] However, the strains of plague that did not have the pla gene eventually went extinct. This likely reflects another shift that occurred in the host-pathogen relationship within their environment. When the team searched for signs of pla gene depletion in samples of the third plague pandemic preserved in a large collection at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, they found three contemporary strains with the pla depletion. The diminished virulence that the pathogen evolved in response to more of its hosts dying potentially caused these earlier plague pandemics to fizzle out. 'Thanks to our international collaborators who monitor local epidemics of plague worldwide, we were able to find the unique bacterial samples used for this project, akin to finding of three rare needles in a haystack,' Javier Pizarro-Cerdá, a study co-author and microbiologist who specializes in plague at the Institut Pasteur, said in a statement. Despite this evolution, most of the strains circulating in some countries in Africa, South America, and Asia are more virulent. 'Today, the plague is a rare disease, but one that remains a public health concern and serves as a model for gaining a broad understanding of how pandemics emerge and become extinct,' said Javier Pizarro-Cerdá. 'This example illustrates the balance of virulence a pathogen can adopt in order to spread effectively from one host to another.'
Forbes
15-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
Istanbul's Hagia Sophia Enters The Most Extensive Phase Of Its Multi-Year Restoration
Interior of Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque (Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi), Istanbul Turkey Ask any tourist traveling to Istanbul for the first time what is number one on their must-visit list and there's a good chance they're going to tell you the Hagia Sophia. The nearly 1,500-year-old landmark sees more than 50,000 visitors every single day. The Hagia Sophia is one of the most celebrated religious landmarks in the world, having been first an Eastern Orthodox Church by Byzantine emperor Justinian I before being converted to a mosque by the Ottoman Empire, a museum by secularist Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and eventually reconverted back to a mosque in 2020. The architectural wonder features a blending of preserved Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy on display shoulder-to-shoulder, offering an unparalleled look at the layers of culture and spirituality within Türkiye. Mosaic From The Byzantine Era In The Hagia Sophia Of Istanbul, Turkey The UNESCO-listed heritage site is currently undergoing extensive preservation work, made even more urgent due to Istanbul's recent 6.2-magnitude earthquake. As of this spring, the Hagia Sophia has entered its most crucial phase of the multi-year restoration project, specifically focusing on reinforcing the 31-meter-wide dome. The main purpose of this specific part of the project is to strengthen the structure against potential future earthquakes while also preserving the original form and safeguarding the interior mosaics and architectural details. 'In the most terrifying scenario, an earthquake will shake the entire structure,' Hasan Firat Diker, architect and lead of the restoration told The Guardian. 'The main arch connecting the main dome and semi-domes could tremble and there might be cracks that occur.' Key restoration work includes reinforcement of the central dome using custom-engineered steel structures, which allows the restoration to continue without having to pause visitors or worshippers from visiting the mosque. The exterior coverings will also be dismantled, and repaired or replaced, while a 43.5-meter-tall interior scaffolding system will support the conservation of mosaics on the interior of the historic building. The entire Hagia Sophia has also been 3D-scanned in order to create a digital twin of the complex for longer-term historical preservation and further research. Undoubtedly one of Istanbul's most iconic landmarks, Hagia Sophia has stood as a place of worship since Roman times. Over the centuries, it has endured earthquakes and wars, including the Nika Revolts, leading to numerous restorations. Commissioned by Emperor Justinian I, the current architectural masterpiece reflects the grandeur of Byzantine design. Once transformed into a museum in the 20th century, it was reconverted into the city's grand mosque in 2020. Yet, its upper gallery remains open to visitors, offering a glimpse into the timeless splendor and excellence of its ancient heritage. This extensive restoration comes on the heels of other completed projects over the past few years, including the restoration of the Tombs of Mehmed III, Selim II, and Murad III. The project also included the reopening of the upper gallery to tourists; non-Muslim visitors can no longer enter the ground floor of the structure, which is now reserved for prayer.
