These missionaries played a key role in the initial growth of Christianity in Ethiopia.
The religions mystical aspects found a curious draw among the young.
A priest is seen looking out of Abuna Yemata churchs only window.
The church is located on aside of a cliff, 650 feet up from the floor of the valley.
This image is from a recently published book Ethiopia: The Living Churches of an Ancient Kingdom.
These ancient churches were often built in the most impossible of places.
A good example is the Abuna Yemata Guh in Tigray, in Northern Ethiopia.
The final leg of the journey involves scaling a sheer 19 feet-high wall of rock.
This image puts things really into perspective.
The only way to the monastery is up a sheer cliff 50-feet high.
Reaching the church originally involved climbing a steep cliff using only foot and handholds.
Today, it is replaced by a rickety wooden ladder.
The Mikael Debre Selam church.
Photo credit:Carsten ten Brink/Flickr
Photo credit:Andrea Moroni/Flickr
Photo credit:Thomas Maluck/Flickr
