Lake Tana is the biggest lake in Ethiopia, and is the source of the Blue Nile. It has more than three dozen islands on it, and is famous for the monasteries that dot these islands. The people who live on there use a papyrus boat called a tankwa - basically a one man canoe. The children on the islands make miniatures of these boats and sell them to tourists.
As we boated out onto the lake, the woman on board began preparing a coffee ceremony. Japan has a tea ceremony, Ethiopia has coffee. She spread out grass and fake flowers, arranged the cups and incense, along with a Happy Christmas banner. She was stunningly beautiful and so cheerful and tolerant of all the picture taking.
White pelicans dot the lake, and we saw many flotillas of them taking off - quite a sight. There are supposedly hippos here as well, but we weren't lucky enough to see any.
The lake holds more than 20 monasteries, many of them founded during the 14th century. Most of these were pretty unknown (at least to outsiders) until the 1930s.
The first monastery we visited actually wasn't on an island, but on the Zege Peninsula. It is called Ura Kidane Mihret. Most Ethiopian churches are circular, which in itself is radically different from other churches I've seen, and this one dates from the 16th century. Every wall is covered with paintings that are 100 to 250 years old. Again, scenes from the bible. The circular nature of the churches has multiple meanings. There are three compartments of the church. It stands for the trinity, and also indicates layers of holiness. The outer area (the only place we were allowed) is where the people come to pray, the middle area is where the priests can go, and the inner most area is where the ark is stored. Yes, that Ark. Every church in Ethiopia has a replica of the Ark that is covered at all times, and not even the priests are allowed to see it regularly, only a caretaker.
At the Timkat Festival, which will be held in Lalibela, all the arks from the surrounding area are brought there by the priests, and there is a religious processional of them. That's coming later.
We hiked up to the church and the museum, through the gauntlet of "Hello! You buy? Very pretty! Crosses! Scarves!" It was a good time to browse before buying on the way back.
The church was breathtaking. The colors and the details were overwhelming. Mary plays a huge role here, as she does with most Orthodox Christian beliefs, with her life story illustrated on the walls, along with St. George (Ethiopia's patron saint). It was another of those wow moments that I look for - and all housed in a rather modest circular structure that, frankly, looks like a stable from the outside. Just goes to show, you never know what's on the inside unless you look closely.
As we boated out onto the lake, the woman on board began preparing a coffee ceremony. Japan has a tea ceremony, Ethiopia has coffee. She spread out grass and fake flowers, arranged the cups and incense, along with a Happy Christmas banner. She was stunningly beautiful and so cheerful and tolerant of all the picture taking.
White pelicans dot the lake, and we saw many flotillas of them taking off - quite a sight. There are supposedly hippos here as well, but we weren't lucky enough to see any.
The lake holds more than 20 monasteries, many of them founded during the 14th century. Most of these were pretty unknown (at least to outsiders) until the 1930s.
The first monastery we visited actually wasn't on an island, but on the Zege Peninsula. It is called Ura Kidane Mihret. Most Ethiopian churches are circular, which in itself is radically different from other churches I've seen, and this one dates from the 16th century. Every wall is covered with paintings that are 100 to 250 years old. Again, scenes from the bible. The circular nature of the churches has multiple meanings. There are three compartments of the church. It stands for the trinity, and also indicates layers of holiness. The outer area (the only place we were allowed) is where the people come to pray, the middle area is where the priests can go, and the inner most area is where the ark is stored. Yes, that Ark. Every church in Ethiopia has a replica of the Ark that is covered at all times, and not even the priests are allowed to see it regularly, only a caretaker.
At the Timkat Festival, which will be held in Lalibela, all the arks from the surrounding area are brought there by the priests, and there is a religious processional of them. That's coming later.
We hiked up to the church and the museum, through the gauntlet of "Hello! You buy? Very pretty! Crosses! Scarves!" It was a good time to browse before buying on the way back.
The church was breathtaking. The colors and the details were overwhelming. Mary plays a huge role here, as she does with most Orthodox Christian beliefs, with her life story illustrated on the walls, along with St. George (Ethiopia's patron saint). It was another of those wow moments that I look for - and all housed in a rather modest circular structure that, frankly, looks like a stable from the outside. Just goes to show, you never know what's on the inside unless you look closely.
Very cool... I love the idea of a coffee ceremony. I need more ceremony in my life :)
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