Service Description

Join Recess Inn owner and tourism consultant Samantha Hogenson Bray to learn about the fascinating rock-hewn churches of Ethiopia's Tigrai region. During her time at the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), Samantha worked with Tigrai's Culture & Tourism Bureau and Mekelle University to develop visitor guidelines, resources, and a cultural heritage map of this ancient region, known as the "cradle of Ethiopian civiliation." Carved into the region's Gheralta Mountains, you'll find over 120 rock-hewn churches, full of ancient art and artifacts. Ethiopian tradition maintains these churches were established between the 4th and 11th centuries. Scholars believe the churches date from the 9th to 15th centuries. Either way, they are masterpieces and still fully operational today. Within most churches, you'll find three spaces, with the innermost being a space only accessible to the high priest. Each church keeps a copy of the Ark of the Covenant, and Ethiopian lore says that the real one is within the inner sanctuary of a church in the nearby city of Aksum. It is believed the Menelik I, the first Emperor of Ethiopia and supposed son of King Solomon and the Ethiopian Queen of Sheba, brought the Ark, given as a gift from Solomon, to Ethiopia in the 10th century. Learn more about this incredible place during Samantha's travel talk and photo presentation. This is a free event, and light refreshments will be provided. Please register by July 19th so we may prepare our space adequately. While the event is planned to be in the Recess Inn's Oral Hawkins Library, if there is enough interest, the Travel Talk may be held in the Ethel Community Church, with refreshments following in the library. This information will be communicated prior to the event.