There is an undeniable spiritual uplift from the landscape of Tigray; northern Ethiopia.This is a region of buttes and columns of rock rising hundreds of feet from the valley floor. The colours are clear and intense. Eagles perch in the lone tree on the ridge line.Ethiopia is filled with many ancient wonders and Tigray, considered as the cradle of Ethiopian civilization, safeguards the manifold cave churches of Ethiopia.
The remarkable ones among them include: Abune YemataGuh, Mikael Debre Selam, Abuna Abraham, Abraha We Atsbeha, Maryam Korkor, Maryam Papaseit, Medhane Alem Kesho, AbunaGebre Mikael, Daniel Korkor and Abba Yohanni.Hidden up high alongside the mountains of Gheralta, these stone-engraved churches give the faithful, a spiritually-elated feeling.Located in Ethiopia’s mountainous north-eastern region, the Tigray Churches are some of this country’s oldest and most preserved Orthodox places of worship.The Tigray churches are an exceptional combination of culture, history and nature, yet they’re unheard of by most visitors to Ethiopia. This isn’t a new phenomenon–the churches, many of which are over 1,000 years old, were only known to their immediate communities until the 1960s. Since then, new churches have been ‘found’ every few years, which is hardly surprising given that they’re often hidden on remote mountaintops and cliffs. Just reaching the Tigray churches, which often involves hiking and rock climbing, is an adventure in itself. Once you’ve made the journey into the church, you’re then greeted by vivid frescos, antique religious artifacts, and a truly unique variety of architecture. Exploring the rock-hewn interiors is awe-inspiring, and then there are the sweeping views to be had. In all, the experience is incredible.
Most of the churches in Tigray and Gheralta are rock-hewn cave churches carved right into the side of the cliff in a basilica style rectangular with one aisle, columns, and a domed ceiling. Typically, there is a narthex at the entrance to the west, and the Holy of Holies at the end to the east. There are two doors one for men and one for women. Due to natural limitations some of the shapes are irregular these churches were literally dug out of the rock.
To get to most of these churches you have to hike up into the mountains, where you will find hidden rock churches that have been preserved by the monks and priests. Now after long time there are more than 120 rock churches, each with its own unique ancient murals and relics. You don’t have to be a person of faith to be moved by the way a culture has preserved, its history and heritage. Hewn out of the rocky landscape by hand with axes, rocks and chisels, the Tigray churches are almost like cave structures with many of the sitting at great heights atop precarious ledges! And here we’re talking about structures created by hand; oral history has it, in the 5th century! Yes, in this African land of ancient Christian wonders, these churches stand out as truly spectacular, and that’s really quite a feat.Inside they are filled with wondrous and equally-aged religious murals painted directly onto the walls using natural pigments that are literally hundreds of years old, as well as aged artifacts of deep religious significance and devote priests who closely guard their safety.