Asheton Maryam Monastery, Monastic sanctuary at Mount Abuna Yosef, Ethiopia
The Asheton Maryam Monastery sits at an elevation of 3150 meters, carved into the rocky cliff face of Mount Abuna Yosef near Lalibela.
According to records, King Lalibela commissioned the construction of this monastery as his first architectural project in the mountain region of Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Orthodox Christians regularly make extended journeys to this mountain monastery, maintaining centuries-old traditions of religious devotion and pilgrimage.
Visitors can reach the monastery through a two-hour climb from Lalibela, with the option to use mule transport for part of the journey.
The monastery preserves a collection of ancient parchment books, religious icons, and ceremonial crosses within its remote mountain location.
Location: Semien Wollo Zone
GPS coordinates: 12.01639,39.07167
Latest update: June 17, 2025 18:51
Ethiopia offers photographers a range of subjects from medieval architecture to geologically active zones. In the north, Lalibela features eleven churches carved from solid tuff rock during the 12th and 13th centuries, while Axum holds obelisks from the Aksumite Empire that flourished from the 1st to 10th centuries. The Gheralta region of Tigray contains dozens of churches built into cliff faces, accessible via steep trails.The landscape extends from the peaks of the Simien Mountains, rising above 15,000 feet (4,500 meters), to the Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth. Bale Mountains National Park supports Ethiopian wolves in afroalpine moorlands, while Awash National Park features acacia woodlands and hot springs. The walled city of Harar Jugol, with its 368 lanes and 82 mosques dating from the 16th century, displays Islamic architecture. The monasteries on Lake Tana islands hold manuscripts from the 14th to 18th centuries, and in Gondar, Fasil Ghebbi documents Ethiopian rule through its 17th and 18th century palaces and churches.
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