In Lalibela, a mountainous area of Ethiopia, some 645 km from Addis Ababa are 11 medieval monolithic churches that were carved out of rock.
A rock-hewn Church at Lalibela
The construction of the churches is attributed to King Lalibela who set out to construct in the 12th century a ‘New Jerusalem’, after Muslim tyrants halted Christian pilgrimages to Jerusalem, the holy Land.
Lalibela flourished after the decline of the Aksum Empire. It is a high place of Ethiopian Christianity, a place of pilgrimage and devotion.
While you might see one the most famous churches (the Church of Saint George) in most pictures featuring Lalibela, there are actually 10 more of them.
The churches are set up in four different groups scattered around the town, including the northern group, eastern group, western group, and two farther afield.
The 11 rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela are:
Biete Medhani Alem (House of the Saviour of the World)
Biete Mariam (House of Mary)
Biete Maskal (House of the Cross)
Biete Denagel (House of Virgins)
Biete Golgotha Mikael (House of Golgotha Mikael)
Biete Amanuel (House of Emmanuel)
Biete Qeddus Mercoreus (House of St. Mercoreos)
Biete Abba Libanos (House of Abbot Libanos)
Biete Gabriel Raphael (House of Gabriel Raphael)
Biete Lehem (House of Holy Bread)
Biete Ghiorgis (House of St. George)
There are two main groups of these churches:
(A) To the north of the river Jordan
Biete Medhani Alem (House of the Saviour of the World)
Biete Mariam (House of Mary)
Biete Maskal (House of the Cross)
Biete Denagel (House of Virgins)
Biete Golgotha Mikael (House of Golgotha Mikael)
(B) And to the south of the river
Biete Amanuel (House of Emmanuel)
Biete Qeddus Mercoreus (House of St. Mercoreos)
Biete Abba Libanos (House of Abbot Libanos)
Biete Gabriel Raphael (House of Gabriel Raphael)
Biete Lehem (House of Holy Bread)
Biete Ghiorgis (House of St. George)
The eleventh church, Biete Ghiorgis (House of St. George), is isolated from the others, but connected by a system of trenches.
The churches were not constructed in a traditional way but rather were hewn from the living rock of monolithic blocks.
These blocks were further chiselled out, forming doors, windows, columns, various floors, roofs etc.
The gigantic work was further completed with an extensive system of drainage ditches, trenches and ceremonial passages, some with openings to hermit caves and catacombs.
Biete Medhani Alem, with its five aisles, is believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, while Biete Ghiorgis has a remarkable cruciform plan. Most were probably used as churches from the outset, but Biete Mercoreos and Biete Gabriel Rafael may formerly have been royal residences. Several of the interiors are decorated with mural paintings.
These exceptional churches have been the focus of pilgrimage for Coptic Christians since the 12th century.
The churches are almost 1,000 years old
Although nobody has been able to figure out an exact construction date on the churches, it’s thought that they were built between the 12th and 13th centuries.
Some scholars believe the churches continued to be built into the 14th century as well.
The churches and town are named after an Ethiopian king, Lalibela
Lalibela was actually a person and the churches in the town are attributed to him.
He was considered a recluse earlier in his life, but later became king of Ethiopia, only to become a recluse again.
King Lalibela
Lalibela is thought to have built ten of the churches while he was alive.
Following the decline of the Aksumite Empire, the Zagwe Dynasty emerged in the 12th century, ushering in a new era of Ethiopian history.
During this period, the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela were constructed, which remain an important pilgrimage site for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.
These architectural marvels, carved out of solid rock, are concrete evidence of the skill and creativity of Ethiopian artisans.
