These four Ethiopian Orthodox priests serve the 18th Century Narge Selassie monastery on Dek Island in the middle of Lake Tana in northern Ethiopia. The backdrop is stone archway leading to the monastery. (Dean Owen / LAT)
On a slow afternoon, street vendors share local news in Harar, the 1,000-year-old walled city in Ethiopia, the fourth most-holy city in the Muslim world. (Dean Owen / LAT)
Two Ethiopian Orthodox priests confer near the carefully guarded chapel in Aksum where the original Ark of the Covenant, built to hold the Tablets of Law God gave to Moses, reportedly is enshrined. (Dean Owen / LAT)
