(13 Oct 2019) LEAD IN: The Fifth Religious Tolerance Forum has been held at Saint Catherine's monastery in South Sinai.
Six Egyptian government ministers attended the annual event that aims to build bridges between different religions.
STORY-LINE:
The call to prayer is sounded from the minaret.
With Mount Sinai in the distance, this spiritual place is where minarets meet church bells.
A religious tolerance forum called 'Here We Pray Together' is being held here.
Extra security can be seen around the religious venues to ensure the event runs smoothly.
Inside the mosque, Friday prayers are being held, with the Minister of Religious Endowments, Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa, addressing worshippers.
"This place is where the minarets embrace the church and the mosque embraces the monastery. Here at Saint Catherine's (monastery) and also in ancient Egypt where the mosque Amr Ibn El-Aas stands next to The Hanging Church which has been next to the Jewish Temple for centuries, a witness to religious tolerance."
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the 6th century St Catherine's Monastery is located at the mouth of a gorge at the foot of Mount Sinai.
It is described by UNESCO as "the oldest Christian monastery still in use for its initial function."
And it is an important site for Jews, Christians and Muslims alike. So it's an appropriate place for representatives of different faiths to meet.
Six ministers from the Egyptian government are attending the forum, along with foreign ambassadors and members of the Egyptian Parliament.
"We are in a place in which behind me a mosque and on my right hand side there is a church which is next to a sacred tree," explains Khaled El-Anani, Egyptian Minister of Antiquities.
"A place which all religions look to. A place inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list. A unique place in the whole world. A place that represents a message of security and safety and religious tolerance."
The mount, also known as Jebel Musa or Mount Horeb, is said to have been climbed by Moses to receive the Ten Commandments.
The Bible says this is where God gave Moses two stone tablets inscribed with the commandments.
He received these laws after leading the Jews out of slavery in Egypt, a story that is retold during the Jewish holiday of Passover.
Like the Old City of Jerusalem, it has become a popular destination and an attraction, not only for pilgrims but also tourists from the world over.
The religious forum 'Here We Pray Together' was hosted at St. Catherine's Monastery in South Sinai from October 10-12, 2019.
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