Third Day of Tigrai Churches

We had a lovely fluffy omelet at the lodge and walked the grounds before leaving. Our driver picked up a guide who told us that the hike to the next church would be at least three hours (actually it was more like 4-5). Before we started the climb up, we saw some boys carrying a dead goat. We were told it had fallen off the mountain-an ominous sign for us!) It became steep almost immediately but the two of us with acrophobia issues were not phased at first as the climb was through a narrow steep chasm. Soon however, it opened up to sheer cliffs but we were all determined to make it and we did!  The church was Maryam Korkor and is still actively used by the people who live in Korkor Village. It is hard to imagine that people of all ages scale this cliff for hours every Sunday.  Obviously, they are more devoted than me!

This church is set on a small plateau atop a sheer sided 2480 meter high mountain. The façade is a strange newly painted green color but the inside is large and had twelve pillars. The church’s origins are subject to dispute but the paintings probably date from the 17^th century. Mel and Catalina took a 10 minute scary walk to another small church even higher up.

The hike down was much more challenging than the hike up as the view down was terrifying. I thought I would spend the rest of my life living as a nun atop the cliff. I kept thinking about that dead goat!! Ultimately, our guide talked me down.

We passed on the next church as it was already 3 PM and we needed lunch and had a four hour drive back to Axum. We sadly said goodbye to Stephen and Catalina along the way. They were fun travelling companions.

More pictures at Gheralta Lodge

Fresh lettuce!

The views were spectacular

On the way

The start of the climb and the dead goat!!!!

The lion rock

The church

The privileged males got to go in the stone entrance. It was a tin door for Catalina and me.

These drums are played during mass. This was a particularly large one.

More skeletons

The cruciform shaped columns were nice.

Some new graves

An olive tree

Inside the smaller church

Every church has an area in back of the altar called the Holy of Holies where only (male) priests are permitted. Catalina and I dared to go into the Holy of Holies in a disused church.

A particularly nice stone house