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Visitor Information: The RPS Gallery and coffee shop will be closed on Saturday 7 December

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CREDIT: Bob Chiu ARPS

Bob Chiu ARPS

Images for Screen Submission

Statement of Intent

The Holy Rock-Hewn Churches

The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia have a rich legacy going back many centuries.

The intent of my images is to capture how these churches provide a unique environment for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians where material poverty and spiritual abundance meet, showing how they maintain strength, peace and faith despite such extreme poverty.  In a sense, these images have been separated from the limitations of time and space, becoming a symbol of the eternal spiritual pursuit of the Ethiopian Christians.

My images show how these devout Christians bring together their religious adherents to this site through prayer, worship and celebration.  The white robes symbolize the spirit of purity, and the illumination of the natural light are inspired by faith.

This GIF is for representation of the Sequence only. It does not reflect the image quality seen during the assessment.