For That's My World and also ABC Wednesday, E is for Ethiopian Church--exterior.
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If you walk down the narrow lane just outside Jerusalem's Old City to No. 10 Ethiopia Street,
you will find the (Ethiopian Orthodox) Ethiopian Church.
It was built in stages between 1874 and 1901.
The Bible says (I Kings 10:1-6) that the Queen of Sheba traveled to Jerusalem in a great caravan to visit King Solomon.
According to Ethiopian tradition, the Ethiopian royal dynasty began with a union between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
Our symbol, the Lion of Judah, also became the emblem of the Ethiopian kingdom, but with the addition of a cross and crown.
When you come to visit, you may have to ask to have the church unlocked.
Here in the picture a nun smiles as the monk removes his shoes and opens the door for us.
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Please come back tomorrow to see the surprising interior.
It is Jerusalem's only circular church sanctuary.
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There is a whole epic, the Kebra Nagast, written about Salomon an Queen of Sheba. A legend says that Ark of Covenant itself is kept in a church in Axum, Ethiopia.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful structure. I'll be back tomorrow to see the interior, Dina. Now to go post my E... :-)
ReplyDeleteWonderful church, Dina. I also will be back tomorrow for the interior.
ReplyDeleteVP, thanks for the name of the epic. I went now to read about it. Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteOnce I saw a TV program about the little church in Ethiopia that MIGHT be guarding the Holy Ark. Can such a secret really be held on to for so long? Another mystery.
Beautiful. I'll definitely be back tomorrow, I want to know how it looks from the inside.
ReplyDeleteI too will be back tomorrow - a tour! Wow!
ReplyDeleteDenise
ABC Team
elegant church building.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Fascinating, Dina. I'm also looking forward to seeing more.
ReplyDelete-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
fascinated by the theological differents amongst Christian churches.
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of the ABC Wednesday team, thank you! - ROG
More things I sure didn't know. Great photos and history, Dina.
ReplyDeleteI am always intriqued by the Ethiopian Jews.
ReplyDeleteAnn, if you want to see a colorful post about Ethiopian JEWS in Israel please see
ReplyDeletehttp://jerusalemhillsdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2009/05/with-ethiopian-israels-on-jerusalem-day.html
What beautiful captures! I like the one with the nun and monk at the door, so filled with mood and emotion.
ReplyDeleteBless you my dear cousin!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIn a way it is surprising that there aren't heaps of circular churches in Jerusalem. After all, rightly or wrongly, the medieval histories believed the original Church of the Holy Sepulchre was circular.
ReplyDeleteSo much remarkable architecture in Jerusalem.
ReplyDeleteWhat a facinating read about King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful buildings.
The building looks great on the second pic and I also like the detail that follows.
ReplyDelete