Photo gallery: a testament to faith and devotion in Ethiopia's rock churches
The dramatic rock-hewn churches of Tigray in the Gheralta Mountains have their roots in an age of desert monasticism — it was here in the sub-Saharan kingdom of Aksumite that Christianity was adopted as the state’s sole religion in the fourth century.
By Nigel Pavitt
Photographs By Nigel Pavitt
Published 28 Feb 2020, 07:00 GMT, Updated 5 Nov 2020, 05:13 GMT
A priest stands outside the entrance to the church of Abuna Yemata, which was carved into a sandstone pillar around the sixth century.
A Coptic priest outside the huge wooden doors of the semi-monolithic 10th-century church of Abraha Atsbeha.
A priest sits beneath the church bell outside the rock-hewn church of Maryam Korkor.
Prayer sticks at Ura Kidane Mehret Monastery. They are used to support worshippers under their right arms while standing for long periods during church services.
Two Tigrayan women walk along a narrow ledge towards the ancient rock-hewn church of Abba Daniel Korkor seemingly oblivious to the three-hundred-metre precipice to their right.
Many ancient rock-hewn churches are situated in the ruggedly beautiful red sandstone Gheralta Mountains.
An Orthodox priest close to the church of Abuna Gebre Mikael.
Debre Damo, one of the most inaccessible centres of Christianity in Ethiopia.
An Ethiopian Orthodox monk climbs up to the ancient Monastery of Debre Damo, which can only be visited by men.
A young Ethiopian woman with distinctive hairstyle and jewellery.
The domed ceiling at Mikael Milhayzenghi cave church, excavated from solid rock about the 8th century.
A priest in Wukro Maryam church.