When Queen Ranavalona came to power, it was by riding on a tide of blood after having murdered every possible successor to the throne, be they of her flesh and blood or not. The bloodthirsty queen wanted to stamp her claim on the seat of power not only to the people of Madagascar but to any colonial invader with their eyes on the sovereign. And so continued her witch-hunt to erase all traces of foreign influence within the country. Not even the most innocent of public Christian figure within the Madagascar of that time was spared. Their blood stained the flagstones red and seeped into the clifftop where they were slain as the people quietly granted them martyrdom for their sacrifice.

After the reign of Queen Ranavalona I, a cathedral rose from their site of demise in memory of their sacrifice. Till today, it is the biggest church in Madagascar and is seen by the Malagasy as an icon of Antananarivo. Dressed in gothic spires and typical European architecture of the day, the Andohalo stands out within the capital city of Antananarivo, plain limestone imbued with significance of a religious struggle. This isn’t just a monument to God but a memorial of human faith.