After challenging climbing in the morning, we visited the Maryam Papasetti Church in a valley south of Hawzen, in a serene spot below the cliff, surrounded by greenery. It is a semi-monolithic church (meaning the “Holy of Holies” is hewn from the rock, while the main sanctuary is a built structure), renowned for its exceptional 17th-century wall paintings depicting biblical scenes. The church includes outstanding renderings of the “24 elders of the apocalypse” and Jesus washing Peter’s feet. Mary and St. George are also prominent figures. It is considered one of the region’s most accessible and rewarding churches (🎟️800 ETB).
