VOA常速英语2007-Ethiopia's 'New Jerusalem' Major Draw for Christ

By Cathy Majtenyi
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
30 October 2007
 
The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are among Ethiopia's crowning glories, recognized internationally as a unique and important site. Built in the early 1200s by King Lalibela, the churches continue to draw pilgrims from around the world and are a testament¹ to the grandeur² of the millennium³ that has just passed in Ethiopia. Cathy Majtenyi visited Lalibela and files this report for VOA.

Legend has it that before he became king, Saint Gebre Mesqel Lalibela fell into a deep sleep for three days after his half-brother tried to poison him.

While he was asleep, angels took Lalibela to heaven and showed him the magnificent churches he was to build. Lalibela then fled to Jerusalem where, another legend says, God showed him a vision of a new Jerusalem in the Ethiopian town of Roha, now called Lalibela.

Many experts contend that the 11 churches carved out of rock were constructed under the leadership of King Lalibela, who reigned⁴ from 1181 to 1221, Western time, during the Zagwe Dynasty.

Among the most famous churches is Bet Giorgis, or St. George Church. Visitors reach its entrance by walking along a narrow path surrounded by high rock walls.

Ethiopia's national saint, St. George, is said to have severely⁵ scolded King Lalibela for not having constructed a house for him, and hence the king promised St. George that his would be the most beautiful church. Monks⁶ still point out holes on a rock face near the church that were supposedly made by the hooves of St. George's horse.

Father Wodai Asafa is the priest at St. George's Church. He says, "This is a place where one meets God. This pleases man and God will be pleased too."

Near St. George Church, boys from around seven to 11 years old are being trained to be deacons, and perhaps eventually priests in the Ethiopian Christian⁷ Orthodox Church.

Not far from St. George Church is a group of churches surrounded by a rock wall. Believers considered it the pathway to heaven. Another noteworthy church is Bet Medhane Alem, or House of the Redeemer of the World. The Lonely Planet guidebook describes it as the largest rock-hewn church on earth.

Father Asmero Elfasser, the priest in charge of Bet Medhane Alem, says, "It (the church's construction) is very sophisticated. It should be with the help of angels, not only by human capability⁸. When I see this building, I am always surprised. I look at it every morning and every evening."

The United Nations' Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, has classified the 11 rock-hewn churches as a World Heritage Site.

 

Tourists and pilgrims continue to flock to Lalibela, considered to be one of Ethiopia's holiest cities.

Vivian Westbrook is a member of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City. She and fellow church members came to Lalibela and other sites in Ethiopia to pay homage⁹ to their church's Ethiopian roots.

She says, "So it's really coming home, coming home to our spiritual birthplace, and I think it's just been really overwhelming and fascinating and really kind of emotional. It really has been."

As Ethiopia enters its new millennium, which began on September 12th, many Ethiopians look back on their history with pride and reverence¹⁰, vowing¹¹ to continue the great achievements of the past.

1 testament   

n.遗嘱；证明

参考例句：

• This is his last will and testament.这是他的遗愿和遗嘱。
• It is a testament to the power of political mythology.这说明，编造政治神话可以产生多大的威力。

2 grandeur   

n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华

参考例句：

• The grandeur of the Great Wall is unmatched.长城的壮观是独一无二的。
• These ruins sufficiently attest the former grandeur of the place.这些遗迹充分证明此处昔日的宏伟。

3 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

4 reigned   

vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式）

参考例句：

• Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静，一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

6 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

8 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

9 homage   

n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬

参考例句：

• We pay homage to the genius of Shakespeare.我们对莎士比亚的天才表示敬仰。
• The soldiers swore to pay their homage to the Queen.士兵们宣誓效忠于女王陛下。

10 reverence   

n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• We reverence tradition but will not be fettered by it.我们尊重传统，但不被传统所束缚。

11 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。