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.
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.
Photograph by Nigel Pavitt
A Coptic priest outside the huge wooden doors of the semi-monolithic 10th-century church of Abraha Atsbeha.
Photograph by Nigel Pavitt
A priest sits beneath the church bell outside the rock-hewn church of Maryam Korkor.
Photograph by Nigel Pavitt
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.
Photograph by Nigel Pavitt
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.
Photograph by Nigel Pavitt
Many ancient rock-hewn churches are situated in the ruggedly beautiful red sandstone Gheralta Mountains.
Photograph by Nigel Pavitt
An Orthodox priest close to the church of Abuna Gebre Mikael.
Photograph by Nigel Pavitt
Debre Damo, one of the most inaccessible centres of Christianity in Ethiopia.
Photograph by Nigel Pavitt
An Ethiopian Orthodox monk climbs up to the ancient Monastery of Debre Damo, which can only be visited by men.
Photograph by Nigel Pavitt
A young Ethiopian woman with distinctive hairstyle and jewellery.
Photograph by Nigel Pavitt
The domed ceiling at Mikael Milhayzenghi cave church, excavated from solid rock about the 8th century.
Photograph by Nigel Pavitt
A priest in Wukro Maryam church.
Photograph by Nigel Pivett