VI
EN
By the 5th century, nine saints from Syria, Constantinople, and other places began spreading the faith further afield, even to rural and mountainous regions. These missionaries played a crucial role in the early development of Christianity in Ethiopia. The monks translated the Bible and other religious texts from Greek into Ethiopian, making Christianity more accessible to the local population. The mystical aspects of the religion further piqued the curiosity of the youth. As Christianity flourished, a series of churches and monasteries were built on mountaintops or excavated from solid rock, some of which remain in use today.
A monk gazes out of the single window of the Abuna Yemata church, which sits atop a cliff 200 meters above the ground. This image is featured in the book “Ethiopia - The Living Churches of an Ancient Kingdom”.
Ancient churches were often built in unexpected places. A prime example is the Abuna Yemata Guh church in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. This church sits atop a mountain 700 meters high. Reaching it requires navigating narrow paths and crossing a rickety makeshift bridge clinging to the cliff face. It was founded by Abuna Yemata, one of the nine saints, who spent almost his entire life practicing asceticism there.
Image showing the dangerous entrance to the Abuna Yemata church. Photo: Ethiopia - The Living Churches of an Ancient Kingdom.
Photo credit: Owen Barder
A stunning fresco inside the Abuna Yemata church. Photo: Matthew.
Photo: New Facte New Places.
A priest holds open an ancient Bible bound in goatskin, illustrated with vivid hand-drawn images and elaborate calligraphy. Photo: New Face New Places.
A 200-meter-long temporary bridge made of logs on the road to Abuna Yemata Guh. Photo: New Face New Places.
The bells of Abuna Yemata Church are actually two rocks suspended high between the cliffs. Photo: New Face New Places.
A 6th-century monastery sits atop a flat mountain called Debre Damo. The only way to reach it is by climbing a cliff over 15 meters high using ropes. 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 believed 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)
