Happy Easter!

Easter could not have come at a better time this deployment. When all hope was lost, I am reminded of Christ's resurrection. This morning I went to the Easter sunrise service at the monastery. We stood outside a monastery dating back to 595 A.D. and celebrated. It was a serene experience I will never forget.

Saint Elijah's Monastery was a Christian Monastery founded in 595 A.D. by a monk named Elijah. He is famed for studying at the Ezla Monastery in Turkey under the monk, Nisibin. He later became a student under Mar Orahim who assisted in establishing the bylaws for the site in 571 A.D. After many years of service by Elijah (Mar Elia), the responsibility of caring for the monastery was given to Mar Elia's nephew, Khnanisho. On the same location, a church was built sometime between the 14th and 15th century. During the 17th century, an Alqush native by the name of Hurmizd Alqushnaya renovated the monastery. It remained, to be a successful center of Christianity until it was destroyed in 1743.

Hope you all have an 'egg'-cellent Easter!

I'll be fine as long as the chow hall has strawberry ice cream tonight at dinner!
(I gave up ice cream for Lent.)