New Rock-Hewn Churches of Ethiopia

Co-ordinates: 10° 13' 00" N, 39° 26' 56" E

Location:

The church of Amanu’el is carved in the north face of a small outcrop, south of Zemero, North Šäwa. A second, seemingly abandoned chamber is carved to the right of the new church.

Site Description:

(by Tarn Philipp)

Church Description:

The church was carved from February 2013 to October 2017 (or June 2005 to February 2010, Ethiopian Calendar) by the young Gebre Hana. The church does not yet include a tabot but already attracts a congregation of worshipers. The church is unusual and irregular in plan and appears somewhat incomplete. The north elevation is formed by three entrances and boasts several carved crosses. There are no window openings. A raised platform, carved from the mother rock, is found between the left and central entrance. Seven square concrete columns form a crescent in front of the church and when funds allow, will enclose the area immediately in front thereof.

The middle and right entrance enter into the main body or qeddest. This space lacks any clear form and the area within the right entrance extends further south to half form a chamber. A central entrance south of the qeddest gives access to the maqdas, which is raised by a single step. The magdas is circular in plan and includes a central square column. This column will perhaps be hollowed to form the manbara tabot. An adjoining passage runs east of the maqdas to a small chamber immediately within the left entrance. This chamber forms the beta lehem and is reserved for priests. The beta lehem also has direct access to the qeddest and is raised by three steps.

The surfaces are typically poorly worked and the passage floor between the beta lehem and maqdas is noticeably sloped. The roof is more or less flat throughout. Two shallow channels are carved in the floor and divert water, which seeps through the rock at the rear of the church. The chamber to the west of the church is circular in plan and was badly flooded.

Getting There:

Zemero is a small town southwest of Mähal Meda, North Šäwa. At the roundabout in Zemero, take the road south to the built church, Zemero Qeddus Gäbrǝ’el on the edge of town. The new rock church is south of the built church and takes fifteen minutes to reach by foot. A new road, connecting Zemero to Šäwa Robit is under construction and will make the church far more accessible.