WOODCARVING

The most significant examples of woodcarving at Sinai are to be found in the catholicon and date from the sixth century. These include the four-leaved doorway made of cedar of Lebanon at the entrance into the nave, and the beams in the ceiling above, each of which is carved with a different design, but all of which harmonize perfectly with each other. These are carved with a variety of animal and plant motifs, executed with a sure hand and great skill. There are also important examples of wooden doors dating from the Fatimid period, in which designs of great geometric complexity are executed with each piece held in place by tongue-and-groove joinery.

The iconostasion in the catholicon was carved in Crete in the seventeenth century, and then gilded and painted. This is also true of the episcopal throne to the side of the nave in the catholicon. Yet another example is the long walnut table in the refectory, which may date from the fifteenth century.

The ciborium over the main Holy Table and the prothesis table are of very different design. These offer many facets, and each facet is covered with tiny inlaid pieces of tortoise shell and mother-of-pearl, all cut to interlocking shapes, and each piece held in place with a silver pin.