Ethiopia’s Chapel in the Sky
If churches were assessed by their risk factor, Abuna Yemata Guh would be our new Sistine Chapel. Perched 650 feet above a steep cliff in Northern Ethiopia, visitors face a 45-minute climb up the cliff’s vertical face in order to access the precariously positioned church. Dating back to the 5th century, history has it that its founder Father Yemata built the chapel to be closer to heavenly spirits; however, others claim it was a strategic move to avoid his enemies.
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Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia
The 11 medieval monolithic cave churches were built or rather carved from the rock by king Lalibela in the 13th century to create a 'New Jerusalem'. In the video: walk around the 11 Lalibela churches, beginning with a morning mass at Bet Giyorgis, and following with Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Danaghel, Bet Gabriel-Rafael, Bet Emanuel, Bet Abba Libanos. At the very end - Yemrehanna Kristos church, located in a natural cavern, 40 km from Lalibela, predating the Lalibela churches by a century. The Lalibela Rock Hewn churches are UNESCO World Heritage site.
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