T HE LALIBELA PILGRI MAGE
avatarmultimedia@yahoo.com P.O. Box 727, Kingston 6, JAMAICA Tel: 876-587-3800
T h e LALIBELA PILGRIMAGE
I NTRO D U CTI O N The Ethiopian Orthodox faith is the oldest Christian denomination, and its liturgy and icons are ancient and unique. The 11 medieval monolithic cave churches of this 13th-century 'New Jerusalem' are situated in a mountainous region in the heart of Ethiopia near a traditional village with circular-shaped dwellings. Lalibela is a high place of Ethiopian Christianity, still today a place of pilgrimage and devotion. In 2014 a group of members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Jamaica will embark on a PILGRIMAGE to the foundation and heart of their religious origins – the holy city of Lalibela, Ethiopia. The purpose of the Pilgrimage is two-fold. First, the Jamaican Pilgrims are eager to receive the spiritual blessing of praying the Orthodox Liturgical services of the faith in the Church of Beta Giorgis, which they consider the holiest church on earth. This they consider a divine mission they wish to accomplish in their lives. Having been inspired by the divine life and spiritual guidance of H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie, the trip will be a special opportunity to set foot on the holy sites of the faith and history he inspired them to follow, and to comment on their experience from their unique perspective. The Pilgrimage will also travel to Aksum, Lake Tanna, Gondor, Harar and the Rastafari village Shashemane, touring and viewing these other historic sites.
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT – AKSUM
The second, and equally important, purpose of the LALIBELA PILGRIMAGE is to bring a donation to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church for the restoration and re-building of the temple that houses the ARK OF THE COVENANT. The Ark of the Covenant is a wooden structure overlaid with gold that God directed Moses to build, to house the original tablet of the Ten Commandments and the Mercy Seat, as the residence of God on Earth (Exodus CH.25). It was used as a guide and protection to clear the way for the Children of Israel as they traversed the desert for 40 years, out of bondage in Egypt to take possession of the Promised Land. According to Ethiopian history, the Ark of the Covenant has been in Ethiopia for the past 3,000 years, transported there by Menelik I, the son of the union of King Solomon and Makeda, the Queen of Sheba. All Ethiopian Orthodox Churches utilize a replica of the Ark of the Covenant (called a tabot) in their Holy of Holies. The original Ark presently rests in a special temple at the Church of St. Mary of Zion, in the Holy City of Aksum, protected by a special Priest whose life work is to guard the Ark. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is building a new Temple for the Ark of the Covenant next to the Church. This is necessary because the present Temple of the Tablets housing the Ark of the Covenant is leaking and is in need of repairs. The EOTC has reached out to the Churches and members in the USA and the Caribbean, as well as christian-minded Rastafarians to engage in this holy task. Once achieved and the new Temple is built, then the Ark will be moved to the new Temple while repairs are done to the older Temple. The present Temple was built by Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen.
ABO UT LALIBELA The King of Lalibela set out to build a symbol of the holy land, when pilgrimages to it were rendered impossible by the historical situation. In the Church of Biet Golgotha, are replicas of the tomb of Christ, and of Adam, and the crib of the Nativity. The holy city of Lalibela became a substitute for the holy places of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and as such has had considerable influence on Ethiopian Christianity. There are two main groups of churches – to the north of the river Jordan: Biete Medhani Alem (House of the Saviour of the World), Biete Mariam (House of Mary), Biete Maskal (House of the Cross), Biete Denagel (House of Virgins), Biete Golgotha Mikael (House of Golgotha Mikael); and to the south of the river, Biete Amanuel (House of Emmanuel), Biete Qeddus Mercoreus (House of St. Mercoreos), Biete Abba Libanos (House of Abbot Libanos), Biete Gabriel Raphael (House of Gabriel Raphael), and Biete Lehem (House of Holy Bread). The eleventh church, Biete Ghiorgis (House of St. George), is isolated from the others, but connected by a system of trenches. The churches were not constructed in a traditional way but rather were hewn from the living rock of monolithic blocks. These blocks were further chiselled out, forming doors, windows, columns, various floors, roofs etc. This gigantic work was further completed with an extensive system of drainage ditches, trenches and ceremonial passages, some with openings to hermit caves and catacombs. Biete Medhani Alem, with its five aisles, is believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, while Biete Ghiorgis has a remarkable cruciform plan. Most were probably used as churches from the outset, but Biete Mercoreos and Biete Gabriel Rafael may formerly have been royal residences. Several of the interiors are decorated with mural paintings. Near the churches, the village of Lalibela has two storey round houses, constructed of local red stone, and known as the Lasta Tukuls. These exceptional churches have been the focus of pilgrimage for Coptic Christians since the 12th century. All the eleven churches represent a unique artistic achievement, in their execution, size and the variety and boldness of their form.
T HE PILGRIMS The Pilgrims on this extraordinary journey are each special individuals. All are longstanding members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church whose instruction in the faith began with Abuna Yesehaq, the Blessed Archbishop sent by H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie 1 to establish the EOTC in Jamaica and the Western Hemisphere. KES IBBY BRISSETT – EOTC Priest, Kingston. Born and raised in the EOTC, trained as Deacon, now Priest. This is his 2nd visit to Ethiopia. Empress BARBARA MAKEDA BLAKE HANNAH – Author, film producer, film festival organizer, journalist, radio and TV broadcaster; a friend of Bob Marley from 1974 until his death. Ras MIKEY GENERAL – Leading reggae artist, sometime film actor; tours extensively with reggae star Luciano; this will be his 2nd visit to the Holy sites and he will provide much of the documentary's historical commentary. Ras DAVID WILLIAMS- Director – Clothing design/manufacturing company. One-time guitarist touring with Third World. Active Facebook commentator with a wide circle of social media contacts. Sister DEBORAH BELCHER - Director of DebSoy Cream, Jamaica's first soy ice cream company. She and her grown children all faithful EOTC members. Bro. MIKEL RUTTY – International Shipping agent – He and his family were very close to Archbishop Yesehaq, especially during his years living in New York/New Jersey. Frequent visitor to Ethiopia; fluent in Amharic. Ras MAKONNEN BLAKE HANNAH -Godson of Archbishop Yesehaq, declared computer genius at age 13, now music producer, artist and videographer. He will be cameraman for the documentary. Bro. EDWARD L. KING – American/Ethiopian retired businessman based in the USA, former CEO of Freedom Broadcasting Network, who will connect the Lalibela Pilgrimage to the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and to the Ethiopian Royal Family.
COSTS A crowd-funding appeal will be made to cover the expenses of the LALIBELA PILGRIMAGE. These will include: • Air travel to and from Ethiopia – 8 persons • Hotel accommodation and food in Ethiopia – 2 weeks – US$3,000 • Camera hire & expenses for 2-person film crew - US$1,000 • Ground transportation in Ethiopia • Lalibela tour guides To reduce these costs, the LALIBELA PILGRIMAGE Project is inviting selected organizations and companies to use the opportunity to promote their products in the film, I.e. film and digital equipment, air and ground transportation, accommodation, clothing and other personal items. ACCOMMODATIONS WABE SHEBELE HOTEL -Addis Ababa http://wabeshebellehotel.com.et/ Wabe Shebelle hotel was built and established by the former Royal families of Ethiopia. The hotel started operations in 1968 (G.C). In the last 44 years of its life span, it has passed through three administrative regimes an imperial period, a socialist period and the current market based economic period. Currently the hotel is a 100% private owned entity. In Lalibela we have a choice of accommodation, but our hope is to stay at the LAL HOTEL – Lalibela: (2 suites, 37 Twins & 10 doubles; Restaurant B/L/Dinner – Cafe; Rates: $35-45 USD) This interesting hotel is owned by the Council of the St Lalibela Churches, with religious painting and icons in each room. Big grounds with outside seating areas, grass huts. Internet access. 9 of the “VIP” rooms have telephone and TV. Income from the hotel goes towards the clergy and the needy. http://www.staylalibela.com/wp-content/themes/ethiopia/hotels-page.php?id=140
T HE D O C U ME NTARY FILM The LALIBELA PILGRIMAGE, from Jamaica to Ethiopia, will be filmed with the objective of producing a one-hour documentary, and a 4-part TV mini-series. Thedocumentary will be completed by November 2014.
SE N D I N G PRAYERS TO JAH T HR O U G H H.I.M. FOR A SUCCESSFUL MISSIO N
LALIBELA PILGRIMAGE Contact us: avatarmultimedia@yahoo.com P.O. Box 727, Kingston 6, JAMAICA Tel: 876-587-3800