REL GENRL (VIDEO) The World's Most Perilous Church - 650 Foot Rock Climb

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
https://www.chonday.com/31782/cpasky6/

A 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.
 

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
It was impossible to find a single picture which does the whole story justice. Do a search and see more, if you cannot view the video.
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https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/abuna-yemata-guh-church

East Tigray, Ethiopia
Abuna Yemata Guh
Reaching the "Church in the Sky" requires scaling the cliff face of a sandstone pinnacle with a 650-foot drop.

If you think going to a normal church can be an enlightening experience, imagine going to worship in a rock-hewn painted cave atop a towering sandstone pinnacle, only reachable via a daredevil climb with 650-foot drops on all sides.

1415277090162_wps_23_Day_3AM_160314_Abuna_Yema.jpg


img from http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/11/06/1415277090162_wps_23_Day_3AM_160314_Abuna_Yema.jpg

At Abuna Yemata Guh in northern Ethiopia, this risky and thrilling experience is common practice for a few dedicated priests. The monolithic place of worship is said to be the world’s most inaccessible and dangerous church, reachable only by a 45-minute ascent.

The journey has cliff faces to scale, rickety bridges to cross, and narrow ledges to traverse. After crossing through the valley that underlies the church, you must ascend the half-mile-high sandstone pinnacle, searching for rare footholds to avoid the long drop. Adding to the general sense of dread, the route passes by an open-air tomb filled with the skeletal remains of deceased priests (although it’s said that none of the priests died from falling off the cliff).

If the intense climb and the gorgeous view of the valley below aren’t enough to take your breath away, the interior of the church surely will. The cave’s ceiling is covered by two beautiful frescoes, featuring intricate patterns, religious imagery, and the faces of nine of the twelve apostles of Christ. The church also contains an Orthodox Bible with vibrant, colorful sheets made of goatskin. Abuna Yemata Church is so sacred that some Ethiopian parents even risk bringing their babies all the way to the top of the cliff to have them baptized there.

The church is named after Father Yemata, a priest who carved the church out of the cliff face in the 5th century. Some say he chose the high location to escape enemies, while others believe it was an attempt to find true divinity. Either way, his rock-hewn masterpiece has provided a unique opportunity for Ethiopian Christians to demonstrate their commitment to their faith in epic fashion.
 
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AlaskaSue

North to the Future
Pretty incredible. And those women climbing in long dresses - one with a baby strapped to her back! Interesting how the footholds have been molded into the rock over the centuries, and a good thing on some of those spots. I had to look up how it was created - all I could find was that it was hewn from the rock in the 6th century. Can't imagine what kind of effort that must have taken!

Thanks for the post; just fascinating!
 

TerryK

TB Fanatic
Saw this on the Discovery Channel yesterday.
A whole group of men and women climbed the mountain in order to have a baptism.
Anyway the natives made it look easy, compared to the film crew's clumsy efforts.
I guess you just have to know the correct path.
The film crew also used a drone to video the people as they climbed.
 

Freeholder

This too shall pass.
No way would I go up there!

Does anyone know what that kind of rock formation is called?

Kathleen
 

Terriannie

Has No Life - Lives on TB
COOL VIDEO!!!

However do they get back down?

I was thinking the same thing! It would already be petrifying going up but at least you can concentrate on the next steps in the above rocks. Going down, you couldn't but help but see the dizzying bottom below! YIKES!!!

All I can say is, one must be fully filled with the Holy Spirit to have that kind of peace. That would be the ONLY way I could make it up OR down!!!
 
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