Recently

I told my son about how after his conversion to Christianity in the forth century King Ezan of the Kingdom of Aksum (modern day Ethiopia) immediately set out to start creating monasteries, putting them in the most remote of locations, for they knew to preserve what they had been given.

"Well every kingdom knows of others that have fallen before them, 

so they were probably just trying to preserve their own."

(Or something to that effect.)

I said I don't think so, 

I think they knew what they had been given 

and that the day 

(Or days) 

would come 

when its preservation would be of utmost importance. 

(As in right now.).

It wasn't the Kingdom they were concerned with preserving, 

it was the word.

Witness:

1 Enoch 

(Ethiopic)

81:1-3

1 Now, my son Mathusala, all these things I speak unto you, and write for you. To you I have revealed all, and have given you books of everything.

2 Preserve, my son Mathusala, the books written by your father; that you may reveal them to future generations.

3 Wisdom have I given you, to your children, and your posterity, that they may reveal to their children, for generations for ever, this wisdom in their thoughts; and that those who comprehend [it] may not slumber, but hear with their ears; that they may learn this wisdom, and be deemed worthy of eating [this] wholesome food.

Dabba Selama Monastery

(Arrows point to ladders to the entrance ways of the monetary)

13°41.67′N 39°6.03′E is given as its location 

because the nearest road is like 18 miles away.

"The almost inaccessible Dabba Selama monastery (13°41.67′N 39°6.03′E) is assumed to be the first monastery established in Ethiopia, by Saint Frumentius. The intrepid visitor will climb down, then scramble over narrow ledges along precipices, and finally climb an overhanging cliff."

It also explains why in a later period

churches were carved out of stone.

And put in the most remote of locations.

Abuna Yemata Guh

is a monolithic church located in the Hawzen woreda of the Tigray Region, Ethiopia. It is situated at a height of 2,580 meters (8,460 ft)[and has to be climbed on foot to reach. It is notable for its dome and wall paintings dating back to the 5th century and its architecture.

Here?

Were lucky if believers decide to go to worship if its raining.

Other monasteries at a later time 

were still being put in extremely remote locations:

(Church not a monastery)

(Church on lake tana again)

But you get the idea.

Lake Tana has been the political and spiritual centre of the Ethiopian Christian faith for many centuries. It is made up of 37 Islands, around 27 of which have monasteries, churches, and ruined of palaces which are the oldest age and considerable historical important. The impressive monasteries and churches located in spectacular aquatic landscapes are of great significance to the history of African structure. The remarkable elements of several stages of construction are outstanding examples of monastic architecture.

The imposing monasteries and their subsidiary establishments, which are protected by their inaccessibility except by water, have been ideal havens for Ethiopian cultural treasure since the 13th the century. Remains of ancient Ethiopian emperors and invaluable treasures are kept in these island monasteries . Many of the earliest manuscripts, artifacts and ecclesiastical objects as well as the remains of ancient Ethiopian emperors and their treasures were housed in the following island monasteries of remaining there for centuries safely.

WHY?

Because they took:

2 Preserve, my son Mathusala, the books written by your father; that you may reveal them to future generations.

To heart

and they knew 

what was to come

which is 

he days we are seeing right now.