Welcome to Eyesus Hintsa Trust

The rock churches of northern Ethiopia are recognised as internationally important, with those at Lalibela registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rock-hewn churches of Tigrai province are less well known, but are of extraordinary interest, set in a stunning landscape.  We are a UK charity dedicated to restoring one of these churches, Eyesus Hintsa (literally ‘Jesus Building’) , carved by hand out of a cliff face dominating a river valley below.  People have been worshipping here since it was first carved over 1000 years ago.

The church has elaborately carved ceilings and columns in the Axumite style, named after the kingdom of Axum, which declared itself Christian in AD 337-40 and is associated with both the Queen of Sheba and the Ark of the Covenant. Eyesus Hintsa may well also have a much more ancient history, dating back to the earliest days of mankind. Ethiopia is one of the richest sources of fossilised prehistoric man: ‘Lucy’, her remains dating back some 3 ½ million years, was found at Hadar in the Danakil Desert bordering on Tigrai. 

This spectacular heritage, which is a real source of pride in the local community, will be irreparably damaged unless the ravages of water erosion, especially severe in the rainy season, are halted. Our task is to conserve the church of Eyesus Hintsa and its associated treasures for future generations.

The Eyesus Hintsa Trust is dedicated to sustaining local craftsmanship, introducing new skills to the community and  encouraging sustainable tourism in the region. It is working in partnership with the local communities of Eyesus Hintsa and Gijet, the Tigrai Commission for Tourism and Culture, the Centre for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (CRCCH) in Addis Ababa and the National Museum of Ethiopia.

If anyone is interested in visiting this friendly, fascinating area we can assist in providing basic accommodation, maps and information.

Registered Charity No. 1118736