Ethiopian Orthodox pilgrims arriving to Mount Sinai at sunrise
Egypt, 2019
Mount Sinai is an important site in the Old Testament, where the Scriptures say God appeared to Moses, and made a covenant with the Israelites. Its summit is still visited by many people today. On the morning of my ascent, I encountered a huge gathering of Ethiopian Orthodox pilgrims who were also making their way up the mountain. This particular theme of pilgrimage remains relatively little known within the African context, this series aims to look into it. Considering the long-standing presence of Christianity in the country, the Ethiopian Orthodox community are an amazing example of such a pilgrimage. Currently being the largest religious community of Ethiopia, their history dates back to the first centuries. The series was awarded a special prize at the 22nd Faludi International Film and Photo Competition.
Dawn. A man is waiting for the sunrise on the summit.
View from Mount Sinai after sunrise
The pilgrim sung beautiful Ethiopian liturgical songs
An older Ethiopian lady with two younger women. Older generations also ventured for the exhausting climb.
A pilgrim in the Orans pose. This pose used to be popular in the first centuries of Christianity.
The open sky and the mountains