Ethiopia: Land of wonder and religious tradition

The church of Lalibela were carved out of stone

By Rudi Bakhtiar
CNN

(CNN) -- Brutal pictures of civil war and famine dominate world news about Ethiopia, a landlocked nation in Eastern Africa just west of Somalia.

But despite the serious economic and political problems that plague this nation, Ethiopia also has a rich history that predates the Old Testament.

The legacy of the Queen of Sheba lies just below the shifting sands, and churches hewn out of sheer rock attract wide-eyed tourists.

The African nation's historic route begins in the ancient city of Askum, which dates to about 100 B.C.

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This capital city was the first place in Ethiopia to adopt a new religion -- Christianity.

According to the Old Testament, The Queen of Sheba was born in Askum, but traveled to Israel to meet King Solomon.

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They had a son named Menelik, who later became the first emperor of Ethiopia.

"Menelik brought the original Arc of the Covenant back to Ethiopia from Israel," according to Daniel Tesfaye, an Ethiopian travel guide.

Today, the Arc, which once housed the Ten Commandments, remains well hidden in Askum. Locals say it is guarded by a select group of monks, whose sole commitment is to protect the sacred vessel.

Askum is also known for its massive, towering sculptures that are more than two thousand years old. Their significance is still under investigation by archeologists.

"(They) are still under study ... but they say it was a burial place for maybe one of the most important persons," said Tesfaye.

Today, Ethiopia's religious tradition is reflected in the day-to-day lifestyle of the people, and nowhere does this spiritual energy echo more than in the monolithic churches of Lalibela.

All 11 structures were carved from one rock in the 13th century, and are still open to the local people for religious ceremonies.

Considered the Eighth Wonder of the World, the churches were built by King Lalibela.

Legend has it that Lalibela was poisoned by his brother and fell into a three-day coma. While he was unconscious, it is said he was transported to heaven where God told him to return to Earth and build churches unlike any on the planet.

Lalibella constructed two types of churches: monolithic and rock-hewn.

Workers dug trenches around solid pieces of rock, and then carved monolithic churches out of the remaining rock.

Rock-hewn churches were carved directly into the mountain face.

The Jordan River divides the houses of worship that Lalibela built. The churches to the left symbolize earthly Jerusalem, while the churches on the right side of the river symbolize heavenly Jerusalem. The river itself is meant to symbolize the baptism of Christ.

A complex maze of tunnels with crypts, grottoes and galleries connects the churches on either side of the Jordan River.