Regenbogenkreuz am Rock of Inscriptions in der Wüste Sinai
Soldiers and traders leave have left behind their traces in countries and among peoples since the beginning of human history. Pilgrims of all religions have done the same.
Particularly striking are the traces of pilgrims found at the Rock of Inscriptions in the Sinai desert: for several thousand years the pilgrims of different religions and languages have immortalized themselves with their inscriptions on this rock.
Once a Pilgrims Badge –
now the Logo of Dormition Abbey
Students of Dormition Abbey's academic program on their Sinai-tour - with rainbow crosses (2009).
The Rainbow Cross comes from Christian pilgrims who passed by this rock on their way to the famous Monastery of St. Catharine. It is a variation of the cross that even today many oriental Christians wear as a tatoo on their wrist. Laurentius Klein, Abbot-Administrator of Dormition from 1969 to 1979, came upon this Rainbow Cross during an extended desert trip that he undertook at the beginning of his time of office.
Since then it has complemented the traditional coat of arms of the Abbey and is well known as a logo of Dormition and of our work.
An Icon of Salvific History...
If one reads it from outside to inside, the Rainbow Cross tells the direction of salvation history: with the gift of the rainbow, God confirmed his promise to Noah never again to permit the earth to be covered by a deluge, “I shall set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth” (Gen 9:13) - a covenant with the entire creation.
The twelve ends of the arms of the cross remind one of the twelve tribes of Israel (and thereby also of the twelve apostles), with whom God established the covenant with the people of Israel. The cross itself stands for the new and eternal covenant of God with mankind in Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen one.
...and for our Service as Monks
Rainbow Cross in Dormition Abbey
Read from inside to outside, the Rainbow Cross describes our service in prayer and work as monks on Mount Zion and in Tabgha:
Our center and point of departure is Christ, the crucified and risen one. He sends us with the gift of His peace into the world. First of all to the people of the first covenant with whom we share dark guilty periods in history but also the treasure of the Old Testament. Mount Zion especially stands as a promise that God wishes to lead all peoples into His light - that is the common message and mission of Jews and Christians. This message is valid for all peoples and languages, God wishes to bestow his peace on all peoples and on the whole of creation.