Monasteries

Full view of St. Catherine's Monastery, a Greek Orthodox site located at the foot of Mt. Sinai in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Charles Thayer describes as "the monastery from the hillside above it." Photograph taken as part of a trip diplomat and author Charles W. Thayer and his wife Cynthia took in March 1961. Photos intended for a possible magazine article by Thayer. Original negatives are in the Harry S. Truman Library collection.

Exterior view showing a Bedouin woman standing by a tree, taken at St. Catherine's Monastery located at the foot of Mt. Sinai in Egypt. Photo described by Charles Thayer as "a bedouin woman in her best clothes including an elaborate silver breast plate, poses in the garden of the Monastery with her young daughter." Photograph taken as part of a trip author and diplomat Charles Thayer and his wife Cynthia took to the area in March 1961. Photos intended for possible magazine article. Original negatives are in the Harry S. Truman Library collection.

Interior view of the church located in St. Catherine's Monastery located at the foot of Mt. Sinai in Egypt. Described by Charles Thayer as "the Ikonastas of the church of St. Catherine." Photograph taken as part of a trip author and diplomat Charles Thayer and his wife Cynthia took to the area in March 1961. Photos intended for possible magazine article. Original negatives are in the collection of the Harry S. Truman Library.

Interior view of a portion of the museum located in St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Photograph taken as part of a trip author and diplomat Charles Thayer and his wife Cynthia took to the area in March 1961. Photos intended for possible magazine article. Original negatives are in the Harry S. Truman Library collection.

Interior view of burial monument located in St. Catherine's Monastery, a Greek Orthodox site located at the foot of Mt. Sinai in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Identified by Thayer as "the dressed skeleton of a monk, guarding the Charnal House where the deceased monks of the Monastery are buried." Photograph taken as part of a trip diplomat and author Charles W. Thayer and his wife Cynthia took in March 1961. Photos intended for a possible magazine article by Thayer. Original negatives are in the Harry S. Truman Library collection.

View of a Greek Orthodox religious figure at St. Catherine's Monastery, a Greek Orthodox site located at the foot of Mt. Sinai in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Identified by Thayer as "Father Nikoforus who looks after visitors, striking the wooden gong which was used before chimes were introduced to the Monastery." Photograph taken as part of a trip diplomat and author Charles W. Thayer and his wife Cynthia took in March 1961. Photos intended for a possible magazine article by Thayer. Original negatives are in the Harry S. Truman Library collection.

View of a Greek Orthodox religious figure at St. Catherine's Monastery, a Greek Orthodox site located at the foot of Mt. Sinai in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Identified by Thayer as "Father Nikoforus who looks after visitors, striking the wooden gong which was used before chimes were introduced to the Monastery." Photograph taken as part of a trip diplomat and author Charles W. Thayer and his wife Cynthia took in March 1961. Photos intended for a possible magazine article by Thayer. Original negatives are in the Harry S. Truman Library collection.

Full view of an icon found hanging on the wall in the museum at St. Catherine's Monastery located at the foot of Mt. Sinai in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Photograph taken as part of a trip author and diplomat Charles Thayer and his wife Cynthia took to the area in March 1961. Photos intended for possible magazine article. Original negatives are in the Harry S. Truman Library collection.

Expansive mountain view of Lamayuru gompa or monastery located in Ladakh. Back of photograph reads: "A gompa or monastery where the lamas live. All are Buddhists in Ladakh or Western Tibet & polyandry is the rule..."