Named for the Saint King who built them, Lalibela is famous around the world for the monolithic churches carved into the bedrock of the region. This tiny northern town hosts several pilgrims and adventure-seekers that flock to one of Ethiopia’s most iconic sites for an Ethiopia adventure holiday.
According to scripts of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Lalibela is considered as the second holy city of Christianity following Jerusalem, due to its 11 monolithic rock hewn churches.King Lalibela’s goal was to create a ‘New Ethiopian Jerusalem’, and he recreated many biblical scenes, such as the stable, out of carved rock. Theses remarkable rock churches are still a sacred pilgrimage destination for many. Lalibela’s 11 churches are carved out of a hillside, which is made of soft reddish volcanic rock. The Bete Giyorgis is by far the most spectacular of these churches. Carved out of the ground, and shaped from the inside out, it is one, unbroken piece of stone. Bete Giyorgis is connected to the other sunken stone churches through a series of elaborate tunnels. The eleven rock-hewn churches are divided into two main groups by the UNESCO World Heritage confederation.
To the north of the Jordan River you will find Bete Medhani Alem(House of the Savior of the World), Bete Mariam ( House of St. Mary), Bete Meskel ( House of the Cross), Bete Denagel( House of Virgins), Bete Golgotha &Mikael (House of Golgotha Mikael).South of the Jordan you can see Bete Amanuel (House of Emmanuel), Bete QeddusMercoreus (House of St. Mercoreos), Bete Abba Libanos (House of Abbot Libanos), Bete Gabriel Raphael (House of Gabriel Raphael), and BieteLehem (House of Holy Bread). Bete Ghiorgis (House of St. George) sits apart from the others.Each church was intended to play a specific role in Lalibela’s holy land, and thus became a target of Muslim invaders. The churches withstood the invaders assault, adding to their legendary status as holy places. Many legends surround the origins and history of each of the eleven churches, and your local guide will draw you into a rich and fascinating exploration.Even for those not intrigued by history or religion, the churches are recognized for their artistic significance as well. Carved entirely in relief, the structures represent some of the most sophisticated carvings monumental architectural achievements of their time or any other. Religious ritual is central to the life of the town of Lalibela: one tenth of its population is devoted to priesthood. Regular processions, extensive fasts, and crowds of singing and dancing priests are common to see. The eleven solid rock churches, in the hills not far from the town, make Lalibela one of the holiest places in Ethiopia. Lalibela is a high place of Ethiopian Christianity; still it is a place of pilgrimage, particularly during Ethiopian Christmas. Followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church flow to Lalibela for Christmas to observe the unique celebrations.This atmosphere combined with the religious architecture and simplicity of the town’s way of life, gives the city of Lalibela “a distinctively timeless, almost biblical atmosphere”.While many can describe the impact of the churches of Lalibela, their true magnificence awaits those who see them with their own eyes.