High in Ethiopia’s Northern Highlands, the rock-hewn churches of Tigray stand as breathtaking sanctuaries of faith carved into sandstone cliffs. Often hundreds of meters above the plateau, many churches can only be reached by steep paths through narrow ravines or by scaling sheer cliff faces—physical demands that underscore their spiritual significance, as local priests and congregants describe these sanctuaries as bringing them closer to the heavens. Historically protected by their challenging locations, these sacred spaces, and the paintings and artifacts preserved within their walls, have become vulnerable following the 2020–2022 Tigray conflict.
Ascend with local priests along the sheer cliffs to hear about the preservation of these remarkable sites of devotion.
About the Rock-Hewn Churches of Tigray
Situated in Ethiopia’s Northern Highlands, the Gheralta Mountains have been the site of near-continuous construction on more than 120 rock-hewn and built churches since the introduction of Christianity to the region in the fourth century. The churches embedded within the Gheralta Mountains remain important repositories of manuscripts and wall paintings dating to the foundations of the churches. The Abuna Yemata and Debre Tsion churches, in particular, are densely inscribed with wall paintings covering the whole of their monumental interiors. A living religious center, the Gheralta Mountains are the site of ongoing architectural interventions with two new churches added as recently as 2023.
Africa’s Cultural Landmarksis produced by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in collaboration with World Monuments Fund.
