Ethiopia’s Chapel in the Sky

YouTube ^ | 07-24-2018 | GBS

[NRx]

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.

[NRx]

WOW!

[Jamestown1630]

Not for a million bucks. Give me Lalibela.

[McGavin999]

Beautiful, I would never see it in person, but I appreciate being able to see it on film.

[left that other site]

AWESOME!

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thrilling. And I'd have liked to see more of the illuminated manuscripts and icons, as well.

As far as I know -=- or maybe somebody could tell me --- this area was never under the control of the Roman Empire, was it? I have a feeling it was perhaps ecclesiastically and politically independent of both Rome and Constantinople. Anybody know?

[Reily]

The Ethiopian Church was closer ecclesiastically to the Alexandrian Church (i.e. the Egyptian Coptic Church) then Constantinople.
“...The Oriental Orthodox churches, which today include the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Malankara Orthodox Church of India, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, are referred to as “Non-Chalcedonian”, and, sometimes incorrectly by outsiders as “monophysite”.
...”

[Hot Tabasco]

I think he built it up there to keep old people in wheel chairs out of the aisles........

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you --- I knew some smart Freeper would now!

These "Oriental Orthodox" are Christian Communities I know almost nothing about, except that they are Apostolic churches of earliest prestige, on a par with Catholic and Eastern Orthodox.

[ebb tide]

Thanks for posting!

[Jacquerie]

Incredible.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Take a look at this church.

[left that other site]

Yes. I watched the video on the edge of my seat! The frescoes are really nice though. :-)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks fieldmarshaldj. I'd cruised through this one, but it's pretty neat, same goes for those subterranean churches in Ethiopia.

[BillyBoy]

>> Thank you --- I knew some smart Freeper would now! These "Oriental Orthodox" are Christian Communities I know almost nothing about, except that they are Apostolic churches of earliest prestige, on a par with Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. <<

Interesting we never see the "you ain't a Christian unless you've been saved in a fundamentalist evangelical protestant church" crowd on these threads. I wonder if they'd be willing to tell this devout Ethiopian priest to his face that he "ain't Christian".

[BillyBoy]

Thanks for the ping. Breathtaking and very unique, gonna share the video with others.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Many works; one Spirit.

[Impy]

Wow, God must protecting the climbers!