MONASTERY OF DEBRE LIBANOS
It is one of the most venerated monasteries in Ethiopia. Its founder, Takla Haymanot, occupies a special place among Ethiopian saints. The monk, trained at the Estifanos monastery on Lake Hayq, is known for having played a key role in restoring the Solomonic dynasty to Yekouno Amlak at the end of the 13th century. Once his mission was accomplished, he retired to a cave in the south of the kingdom to lead an ascetic life.
According to legend, the holy monk lived for many years on his feet, without eating or drinking, fed only once a year by a bird that dropped a seed into his mouth. But the feat didn't end there: one day, his femur broke off, and the saint managed to spend the last seven years of his life balancing on one leg... It was on the site of these feats that the monastery was founded, the holy man having attracted many faithful to his side.
Nothing remains of this original monument after the passage of the Gragn's destructive campaigns. While the recent church, built in 1961, is only of interest for its stained-glass windows by the artist Afewerk Teklé, the natural setting is serene and ideal for a stroll. The recent paintings are nevertheless very beautiful.
One path follows the stream to a small village, while another leads to the cave where Takla Haymanot lived. On the way back, 2 km away, there's a beautiful Portuguese bridge, simply indicated by a roadside sign.
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