Ethiopia 17, Lake Tana, Beta Maryam Monastery

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ETHIOPIA
17
Lake Tana
Beta Maryam Monastery
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LAKETANA
Lake Tana is Ethiopia's largest lake and famous
for the churches and monasteries on 20 of the
lake's 37 islands. Located in Amhara Region in
the north-western Ethiopian Highlands, the lake
is approximately 84 kilometers long and 66
kilometers wide, with a maximum depth of 15
meters, and an elevation of 1,788 meters. The
Lake is known as the home of the Monasteries
founded on some of the 20 of its 37 Islands.
Founded in the 13th century, Beta Maryam, near
the tip of the peninsula, is the oldest monastery
on Zege peninsula and its attractive church has
some excellent murals that, unfortunately,
suffered water damage. Its a short walk from the
landing through lemon and coffee trees
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a short walk from the landing stage through lemon
trees and coffee plants.
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Coffee tree
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Upon arrival you will be greeted by locals
selling traditional handicrafts, as well as other
trinkets. They have makeshift wooden stalls
lining the paths leading to the monasteries.
Thankfully they are not very pushy, and will
leave you alone if you say you are not interested
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Some would say that this selling takes away some
of the atmosphere. But if you were from a poor
village and had something like this in your
backyard, it is only natural to try and support
your family with the selling of souvenirs. And
the people are friendly and the children cheeky
as always
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The monasteries are traditionally built in the
old style, being round. They have three areas.
The inner sanctuary where only priests are
allowed, the inner  area and the outer area,
where worshippers gather. Inside are paintings
and art dating back centuries, making for a
colourful display. With the smell of incense and
darkly lit interior, one can be sent back to old
mystical times.
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The monastery of Beta Maryam consists, like the
others, of a wooden church shaped like a
traditional African house, with a thatched roof,
topped by a large cross, decorated with ostrich
eggs
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• Inside the Lake Tana churches have three spaces
• the outer corridor, the "qene mehlet",
  accessible to anyone
• an inner circular corridor called the "qiddist"
  which is used by the worshippers at mass and
• the holiest room, the "maqdas" in which the
  "tabot" - a stone tablet with the 10
  commandments. Only priests may enter

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The Ethiopian churches are the custodians of both
religious and royal treasures such as royal
crowns, ancient bibles, historical art, sacred
relics, including the remains of royals, etc
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Lake Tana has thirty-seven islands, twenty of
which are home to churches and monasteries. Some
of them dated back to the 13th century and many
others are dated from the 14th century to the
Gonderine period of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Many of the original churches of Lake Tana are
said to be renovated and reconstructed during the
Gonderine period.
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Text Internet Pictures Sanda Foisoreanu
Sanda Negrutiu Daniel
Scradeanu Alin Samochis
Internet All  copyrights  belong to their
 respective owners Presentation Sanda
Foisoreanu
2014
Sound Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah