Abu Yemata Guh is an ancient church located in Ethiopia, the only African country that was never colonised by the Europeans. The roots of the Ethiopian states date to as far back as the 10th century BC with the rise of the D’mt Kingdom...
moreAbu Yemata Guh is an ancient church located in Ethiopia, the only African country that was never colonised by the Europeans. The roots of the Ethiopian states date to as far back as the 10th century BC with the rise of the D’mt Kingdom before the more popular Aksumite Kingdom that rose in the first century AD. It was during the reign of King Ezana in the 4th century AD that the Aksumite Kingdom which is present-day Ethiopia adopted the orthodox tradition of Christianity and became one of the very few Christian nations on earth at the time.
By the seventh century AD, Christianity has been deeply entrenched in the kingdom. Their resolve to adhere to the religion was tested during the rise of Islam around the 7th century AD, despite being Economically Isolated, cut off from there Christian allies and their neighbors rapidly converting to Islam, they remained resolute. As a matter of fact, Christianity became a distinctive characteristic of the kingdom during those times, and it is evident today in the multitude of churches and monasteries that litter the Tigray region These churches originated between the 6th and 12th centuries AD according to historians, and are still active with barely any change in mode of worship. The Abu Yemata Guh is one of these churches.
The Nine saints; Abba Aftse, Abba Alef, Abba Aragawi, Abba Garima , Abba Guba, Abba Liqanos, Abba Pantelewon, Abba Sehma, and Abba Yem’ata were missionaries that came to Aksum and phenomenally contributed to the growth and entrenchment of orthodox Christianity in the region during the 6th century.
They built many churches and founded many monastic houses many of which are named after them. Their origin is not really clear, but about two or three of the saints are believed to have come from Syria, the rest have been ascertained to have come from Constantinople, Anatolia and Rome. They were deeply involved in the expansion of Christianity and the introduction of the monastic way of life. They translated many of the Christian scriptures into the local language; this ancient Aksumite language is still actively being used for worship in the Abu Yemata and other rock-hewn churches of that region even presently.
The church is situated high within a cliff pinnacle over 8000 feet above ground level in the Gheralta mountains of Tigray in Northeast Ethiopia. One estimate puts its height from the ground more precisely at 8,460 feet.
Hence its nickname “The church in the sky”. It was built or more appropriately put carved out from a rock sometime in the 6th century AD, and was named after an Egyptian priest Abu Yemata whom it was dedicated to.
The Abu Yemata Guh although unique is not the only rock-hewn church in Tigray, Ethiopia.
The Gheralta mountains is home to the oldest rock-hewn churches of Tigray, which also not surprisingly are among the oldest surviving orthodox Christian churches in history. These churches were built sometime between the 4th and 6th century AD according to the local priests.
There are about 35 rock-hewn churches and are divided into clusters; Teka Tesfa Cluster, Astibe cluster, Gheralta cluster and the Tembien cluster.
The dangerous narrow cliff path leads to a large heavy stone door which is the entrance of the Abu Yemata Guh Church. The church itself is a cave, a rock-hewn painted cave, but its splendor is definitely worth the climb. The interior of the church is marvelous. A typical Ethiopian orthodox church, it is divided into three sections; A section for music, A section for holy communion and a section that houses a replica of the ark of the covenant, every Orthodox church in Ethiopia has a replica of this ark. The ceiling is adorned with frescoes, that feature beautiful patterns, faces of nine of the apostles of Christ and other religious imageries, amazing murals glamorize the communion room depicting the lives of the nine saints, all the paintings are still in near perfect conditions. Art historians believe the paintings date to the 15th century but were well preserved. Because the church itself is carved from a rock it has only one entrance and no other side entrance, inside is dark but lit by candles.
There are many antique books used by the priests, a good number still in excellent conditions made from animal hide with beautiful drawings made with ink from flora and fauna. Some priests have not left the mountain top for 30 to 40 years; there are even monks that have lived for over 60 years in the mountains.
Despite the difficult dangerous ascent and descent church faithful frequently climb up the cliff for masses and baptisms. Locals believe the church is sacred and it is held in such high esteem that even pregnant women come to the church for blessings. Nursing mothers are not left out, they take the risk and make the perilous climb with their babies up the cliff to get them baptized, although a friend or relative usually assist them, also, some of the locals carry their dead up the mountains to be buried.
Historians believe the paintings in the Abu Yemata Guh was done sometime in the second half of the fifteenth century drawing their conclusion from the styles, themes and iconography, thou the priests and locals suggests a much earlier date.
The paintings are in a well-preserved state, thanks to the low humidity and lack of sunlight however, the lower part of the pictures have been much affected and faded due to frequent human contact especially worshippers. Figures from the Old Testament account for almost all of the characters drawn with just some few New Testament characters depicted. Paintings of characters like; The Apostles, The Nine saints, Christ, Mary, Abraham, Angels, Moses, Jacob are some of the figures that adorn almost the entire walls, cupolas and columns of the church.
