(12 Mar 1997) English/Nat
Britain's Prince Charles took his crusade to raise money for Saint Catherine's Monastery in Egypt to New York Tuesday night.
The heir to the British throne was joined by former U-S President George Bush at a gala dinner for the American Associates of the Saint Catherine Foundation.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art played host to the gala Tuesday night.
Prince Charles, escorted by former U-S President George Bush, was there to meet American members of his Saint Catherine's Foundation.
The Prince established the Saint Catherine Foundation in London last year following a trip to the monastery, which is located on Mount Sinai in Egypt.
The site is considered sacred by Christians, Jews and Muslims.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I'd been told about the monastery in the past, but nothing really prepared me for the experience that it was as far as I was concerned. I was utterly captivated and deeply moved the monastery's very special aura and atmosphere. Particularly I think it had something to do with its 1,500 years of unbroken recorded history and of occupation from the most difficult and persecuted era of the church until now."
SUPER CAPTION: Prince Charles
The Orthodox Christian monastery is located on the site where Jews, Christians and Muslims believe Moses saw the vision of the burning bush and later received the Ten Commandments.
Charles said money was needed to help the monastery preserve manuscripts and icons collected over its long history.
Charles, who will become head of the Church of England when he becomes King, praised members of the American Associates of Saint Catherine's for joining his crusade.
Former U-S President George Bush is the group's honorary patron.
Bush spoke briefly at the event, but declined to address the significance of Sinai.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"And I'm also reminded that Socrates great scholar that he was used to freely lecture people on such weighty subjects -- and they poisoned him."
SUPER CAPTION: George Bush, former President of the U-S-A
The dinner was preceded by a viewing of the Met exhibition on "The Glory of Byzantium" which contains a selection of objects from the monastery.
Also present at the gala were the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, Princess Sumaya of Jordan, and former Clinton adviser George Stephanopoulos.
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