Impressive in its simplicity, the Tomb of Adam is a huge square block of stone stands in a deep trench in front of the western face of Biete Golgotha Mikael (House of Golgotha Mikael). The block has been hollowed out, the ground floor serving as the western entrance to the first group of churches. The upper floor houses a hermit's cell. Again it is a cross that is the only decoration of this "tomb ". The large opening in the eastern wall provides light for the cell and has the shape of a harmonious croix pattee with flat-pitched finials.
Above the entrance is a cross hewn in the stone, and above it is an opening, from where the king and church priests were making announcements to the believers below. The person who appears in the door in the postcard, dressed in traditional Ethiopian clothes, is either a pilgrim or even a priest. The main garnment that the Ethiopian Orthodox primarily wear is Kuta, which is wrapped oblong around the body and it hangs down from both shoulders. Whereas men wear the Kuta as formal wear for funerals or worship services, wives use old Kuta as winter clothing for around the house.
The Tomb of Adam is part of the UNESCO WHS Rock-Hewn Churches, about which I wrote here.
About the stamps
The first stamp is part of the series Gates of Harar, about which I wrote here. The second stamp is one of the four of the series The 125th Anniversary (2012) of Addis Abeba, about which I wrote here. The last is part of the series Old Churches, about which I wrote here.
References
Lalibela - selamta.net
Sender: Adam Wole
Sent from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), on 11.01.2020
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