By the fifth century, nine saints from Syria, Constantinople, and elsewhere began to spread the faith further afield, into the countryside and mountains. Missionaries played a key role in the early development of Christianity in Ethiopia. Monks translated the Bible and other religious texts from Greek into Ethiopian, making Christianity more accessible to the local people. The mystical aspect of the religion further intrigues young people. As Christianity grew, a series of churches and monasteries were built on mountaintops or excavated from solid rock, some of which are still in use today.
A monk looks out the only window of the Abuna Yemata Church. The church is located on a cliff 200 meters above the ground. This image is printed in the book “Ethiopia - The Living Churches of an Ancient Kingdom”.
Ancient churches were often built in unexpected places. A typical example is the Abuna Yemata Guh church in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. This church is located on a 700m high mountain. People have to follow narrow paths and cross a rickety makeshift bridge near the cliff to reach the church. This place was founded by Abuna Yemata – one of the nine saints, he spent most of his life practicing here.
Image of the dangerous entrance to the Abuna Yemata church. Photo: Ethiopia - The Living Churches of an Ancient Kingdom.
Photo credit: Owen Barder
Beautiful fresco inside Abuna Yemata church. Photo: Matthew.
Photo: New Facee New Places.
A priest holds open an ancient, goatskin-bound Bible, illustrated with vivid hand-drawn illustrations and elaborate calligraphy. Photo: New Face New Places.
A 200m long temporary bridge made of logs on the way to Abuna Yemata Guh. Photo: New Face New Places.
The bells of Abuna Yemata Church are actually two rocks suspended high in the cliff face. Photo: New Face New Places.
A 6th-century monastery perched atop a flat mountain called Debre Damo. The only way to get there is by climbing a 50-foot cliff using a rope. The monastery was founded by Abba Aragawi, one of the Nine Saints. Photo: Travel Aficinado.
This modern church was built in front of the cave where Aragawi is said to have disappeared or died. Photo: Ethiopia - The Living Churches of an Ancient Kingdom.
Photo: Achilli Family | Journeys
A priest stands on a narrow ledge in front of the Daniel Korkor Church. Photo: Ethiopia - The Living Churches of an Ancient Kingdom.
Photo: Lonely Planet
Ngoc Anh (According to AmusingPlanet)
