Sacred Landscapes of Tigray

Of the places proposed by the state party, I visited only one, although probably the most spectacular - Abuna Yemata Guh, part of the Gheralta Sacred Landscape.

The Eastern Churches were fond of building temples in difficult places, but Abuna Yemata Guh was probably the most inaccessible of those I had ever seen (a few hours later I visited Debre Damo, which is even more inaccessible). To get there, you have to climb an almost vertical rock wall. Fortunately, local residents make money by helping visitors and in this case they offered harnesses, rope support and personal assistance in the most difficult parts. Without this help from our family, only I would be able to climb, but I wouldn't feel good without any protection. This is definitely not a place for people afraid of heights, you walk along a narrow ledge where you can't even put two feet next to you, and a false move ends with you falling several meters lower. And next to the church you stand on a rock ledge without a railing, where you can fall not just a few, but at least several dozen meters down.

Somewhat exhausted, we finally reached the top. Fortunately, what we found there more than made up for all the hardships. Abuna Yemata Guh, according to tradition, was founded by Abuna (Abba) Yemata, one of the so-called The Nine Saints of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as early as the 5th century AD And it is from this …