Carving churches out of rock using only a hammer and chisel may seem extraordinary to us, but for those living in rural areas of Ethiopia, it’s simply an expression of faith. As a world heritage site, it has long been heralded as a national treasure, but many thought the practice of carving churches from rock had all but disappeared 500 years ago. Professor Michael Gervers explores rock-cut churches in rural Ethiopia (photo by Ken Jones)Professor Michael Gervers explores rock-cut churches in rural Ethiopia (photo by Ken Jones)There’s a very practical reason why churches are carved out of rock in Ethiopia: Sandstone is abundant, a legacy of the country once being entirely covered by the sea. If done properly, a rock-cut church can also last much longer than a church built of other materials. What’s even more remarkable is that most of the craftsmen involved have no formal training in carving churches.

Source: Ethiopian News November 22, 2017 21:56 UTC