The planned program for the conservation of the mosaic of the Transfiguration and of the chapel of the Burning Bush in the monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai was completed. Mosaics have been restored, documentation have been completed, the worksite has been partially cleared. In three weeks working time, (with Barbara holding for one and half week due to a delay in the work-permit emission) all planned activities have been implemented. Only the activities that CCA was expected to carried out in assistance of the static consolidation of the external face of the apse, to be implemented by Arch. Petros Koufopoulos and his group, have been postponed to September 2010 because this work did not start. Due to this delay the scaffoldings in the church were not dismantled, the mosaic was not opened and CCA will be back in Saint Catherine during next fall.

During the actual working campaign, Chiara, Victoria, Barbara and Roberto completed the treatment of the lacunae in the windows area and at the base of the apse; they finished with mortar the upper section of the mosaic and the inner part of the windows; they reviewed and completed the mosaic consolidation in the apse. They completed the treatment of the mosaic of the chapel of the Burning Bush, which has been finally opened to prayers. The group was very warmly received by the Fathers, they manifested great appreciation for the work carried out and great satisfaction in seeing the conservation program completed. Father Daniel and Father Theochristos were, as always, particularly friendly, communicating with our arab-greek-anglo-italian common language. Excursions in the desert were fabulous. The presence in the monastery of His Eminence the Archbishop Damianos gave to Roberto the chance to deeply discuss themes connected to the iconography and theological meaning of the mosaic with an eye to the publication. Father Justin, the librarian, made possible to review information concerning the old restorations and to discuss the contribution that he is preparing for the book. During this time, Roberto met Father Pamphilus, arrived in the monastery one year ago. Together they discussed about the coming event of the official opening of the mosaic, planned for the Saint Catherine feast, on December 7^th, 2010.