The document discusses the rock-hewn churches in and around Lalibela, Ethiopia. It describes three categories of rock churches: built-up cave churches constructed inside natural caves, rock-hewn cave churches partially attached to rock, and monolithic churches completely freestanding from rock except at the base. Many of Lalibela's famous churches like Bete Medhane-Alem and Bete Mariam fall into the last category. The document provides details on the architectural features and religious significance of several individual churches in Lalibela.

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The Rock churches in and around Lalibela
There are an immense number of rock-hewn and cave churches particularly in the northern part
of Ethiopia.
The beginning of rock-cut churches in Ethiopia is dated to the 6th
century by the Nine Saints. This
rock-church tradition is associated with the birth and burial places of Jesus Christ, which were a
cave in Bethelem and carved rock in Gologotha, respectively. In addition to this symbolic
importance, churches were built from rocks perhaps for their physical durability and long-lasting
use.
According to the manner of their constructions, the Ethiopian Rock churches are classified in to
three catogries, namely, built-up cave churches, rock-hewn cave churches and rock-hewn
monolithic churches.
 Built-up-cave churches are ordinary buildings built inside a natural cave, where the caves
protect the church from damages, human made activity and natural disasters. Example;
include the churches of Ne’akuto Le’ab,
 Rock-hewn cave churches are also called semi-monolithic rock-hewn churches. They are
partially separated from the main rock with various degrees of attachment to it. Many of
the Laibela churches belong to
this group.
 Monolithic rock-hewn churches
are completely freestanding
churches attached to the main
rock only at the base. They are
separated from the surrounding
rock and executed on all sides
including the floor. The four
churches in Lalibela (Bete
Mariam, Bete Medhane-Alem,
Bet Amanuel, and Bete Giorgis)

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and one church in the nearby area (Genete Mariam) are perhaps the only monolithic rock-
hewn churches in the world.
Although the tradition of rock-hewn church excavation was started earlier in 6th
century, it
reached at its high level of development during the period of Zagwe Dyansty, particlulary during
the reign of King Lalibela in the 12th
century. In this regard, the famous rock-hewn churches of
Laiblea are best examples.
The prominent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are eleven in number and situated in three groups
separated by the seasonal river Jordan. Churches of the first group are believed to have been
built first and are usually visited first by many of the tourists. They are Bete Medhane-Alem, Bete
Mariam, Bete Mesekel, Bete Denagel, Bete Golgotha and Bete Debre Sina. Chruches of the
second group are situated south of the Jordan River and comprise Bete Gabriel, Bete Amanuel,
Bete Merkorios, and Bete Abba Libanos. In the third group, there is only one isolated church i.e
Bete Giorgis. It is located a few minutes walk to the south west of both the first and second group
of churches.
Bete-Medhane Alem (House of the Savior of the World)
 Huge and impressive and perhaps, the largest monolithic rock-hewn church in the world.
 Rectangular in shape and have large number of monolithic pillars (totally 72) both inside
and outside: that represent the 72 disciples of Jesus Christ that belonged to His 120
family.
 Known by its decorated roof with some architectural elements; it is also decorated by two
rows of windows.
 Its interior is a basilica plan with a nave, five aisles and eight bays.
 Three empty graves (tombs) insides it symbolize Abraham, Issac, & Jacob, Biblical fathers.
 The 14th
century golden Gospel written in
Ge’ez, Arabic and Hebrew scripts is found
there.
 Houses tremendous religious treasure,
including the famous Lalibela cross which
is locally known as Afro Aygeba.
Bete-Mariam (House of St. Mary)
 It said to be the first and the most
favourite church of King Lalibela himself.
 There are three projected porches out
from the main structure in front of the

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three entrances at the west, north and south sides of the church, which gives a cruciform
shape of the floor plan.
 There are various cross style windows in three rows including the swastika.
 There is a pillar permanently covered with white decorated cloth at the main entrance of
the holies of holies.
 It is decorated by beautiful mural paintings (decorations) around the ceiling and the walls
of the church including the Star of David and the double-headed eagle.
 A deep rectangular pool is found in the floor of the surrounding courtyard, which is locally
believed to make barren women fertile if they bathe there and get the blessing of the
priest.
 It is surrounded by a trapezoid shaped courtyard, which is used for the sacred priests
dance and song during Christmas. The famous song of Christmas is known as Beza Kulu
(Redeemer of the world).
Bete-Meskel (House of the Cross)
 Carved in to the northern wall of Bete Mariam and has only one façade, facing south and
decorated by ten blind arcades. According to priests of Lalibela, the ten blind arcades
represent the Ten Commandments and the ten churches of Lalibel (the twin churches are
considered as one).
 Internally it is decorated with many relief crosses and houses the most ornamented
cruciform chamber, which is accessible to visitors.
Bete-Denagel (House of the Virgins)
 Carved in the south façade of Bete Mariam courtyared.
 It is the least impressive, roughest and with out windows from Lalibela Chruches.
Bete-Debre Sina and Bete-Golgotha
 These are twin churches separated by a wall, east of which is Gologtha and to the west is
Debre Sina.
 The local people called them together “Bete Qidus Michael’ (House of St. Michael).
Debre-Sina (House of Mount Sinai)
 It has also a covered pillar like Bete Mariam
 There are many carefully carved pillars in the interior, which are cruciform in croos-
section, with double capitals and decorated by varieties of crosses.

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Bete-Golgotha (House of Golgotha)
 Distinguished by the bas-relief figures of
Saints, perhaps the 12 apostles, carved in to
the niches of the walls.
 Houses a sympolic tomb of Jesus Christ,
which is carved and diplays a bas-relief of the
Dead Savior watched by an angel.
 Contains the tomb of king Lalibela, which is
covered by a movable slab of stone.
 House the Trinity Chapel, which contains
three monolithic altars where the central one
is decorated with a beautiful relief of four winged creatures; a man, a lion, a cow and an
eagle that represent the four evangelists: Mathew, Mark, Luke and Johan respectively.
 Maintains many precious treasures like the prayer stick (staff) and the hand cross of King
lalibela himself.
Bete-Amanuel (House of Emanuel)
 It is the most beautifully carved
church with a typical ancient
Axumite architectural style i.e.
projecting and recessing walls.
 There are two rows of windows
in the façade, of which the lower
ones are cross-shaped and the
upper ones square heads.
 It is a three-story building in
which the ground class is cross-
shaped.
 It has richly ornamented external
walls by horizontal carvings.
Bete-Abba Libanos (House of Father Libanos)
 The roof is not separated from the rock but a tunnel detached the other four sides. The
church carries a huge block of rock.
 It locally symbolize the priest that carries the tabot (the Ark of the Covenant).
 Some believes that Empress Meskel Kibra (the wife of King Lalibela) built this church
though the local church scholars do not accept it.
 It is the smallest from the second group of churches.

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Bete-Gabriel (House of St. Gebriel)
 It has an impressive monumental façade facing to the north and ornamented with original
niches whose top shape is similar to the top part of the Axumit Stele.
 Near to the church, there is a carved band of rock locally called ‘the path of heaven’. It is
a wall shaped and rises from the ground and ascending to the roof.
 There is a well and underground cistern down in the courtyared.
 It is a church whose original entrance is still hidden. Access to the church is through long
bridge crossing the main trench.
 There are three straight Latin crosses incised in to the interior wall.
 There is also a huge manuscript called ‘Gedle Sema’etat” (Hagiograph of Martyrs).
 It has not east-west orientation, thus some speculates it was originally built for secular
purposes rather than the church.
Bet-Merkorios (House of St. Merkorios)
 It is irregular in shape and damaged, but latter repaired. Unfortunately, the original
feature and beauty is destroyed due to the inappropriate restoration.
 It was the second largest church, net to Bet-Medhane Alem though before its destruction.
 Like Bete-Gebriel, it has not east-west orientation, thus the same speculation has
forwarded regarding its original purpose.
Bet-Giorgis (House of St. Gorge)
 It is a cruciform (cross-shaped)
church from top to bottom and
symbolizes the Ark of Noah.
 It is decorated by two rows of
windows. The upper row
windows have original arches and
the bracket capitals are very
famous.
 It has proper orientation,
harmonized proportion and
decorations.
 There are burial niches, small
round caves and chambers in the
wall of the courtyard.
 There is a cistern or baptismal
font in the floor of the courtyard.

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In addition to the abovementioned churches, there are also other rock-hewn structures in
Lalibela. The Tomb of Adam (Qeranio) and Bethelem are good examples in this regard. The
former one is a cross like huge block of stones that stands in carved deep trench in front of the
western face of Bete Golgotha. The latter one is a cone shaped shrine located at the center of the
second group of churches.
The mode of construction observed at the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela is remarkable. Initially,
a large area was marked out. Net big trench were excavated on all sides, isolating in the centre a
huge block of rock. The work was perhaps started at the top and continues to the bottom (the
base of the church). Then, this rock was shaped and formed internally as well as externally.
Finally, the church was decorated with columns, walls, paintings, bas-relief figures, variety of
window shapes and other architectural styles, which make the general appearance of the interior
as a source of inspiration for artists and a source of admiration to visitors. Excavation of all of the
churches is supposed to have been
completed over a period between
23 and 30 years.
The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela
have many features in common with
the indigenous Axumite
architecture. The projection and
recession of walls is typically
observed in Bete Amanuel. The
monkey heads (Square projections)
are seen at the corner of windows
and doors of many of the churches.
The horizontals band (layers)
imitating of wood pits is reflected in
some of the churches particularly in Bete Amanuel. There are also the small towers at each
corner of the churches. The use of the shape of the stele is also seen in Bete-Gabriel.
The churches of Lalibela have many unique features that distinguish them from any other
monuments in the world. They are still centers of active worship, 800 years after they were
excavated. More than many other monuments, they constitute a living link with the past. Each
one of the church is different in style and has its own unique feature. All of them are executed
from the living solid volcanic rock and very much refined. Four of them are strictly monolithic in
structure. They are many in number, excavated in one area within a very short distance from
each other and are interconnected to each other by tunnels and trenches.

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Francisco Alvarez, a member of the 16th
century Portuguese mission to Ethiopia, documented his
appreciation and described each of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibel. After describing all of the
churches in succession, he concluded by saying;
It worried me to write more than these words, because it seemed that they would not believe me
if I write more and because as to what I have already written they will accuse me of untruth.
Therefore, I swear by God in whose power I am, that all that written is the truth, and there is
much more than I have already written and I have left it that they may not tax me with is being
falsehood.
In addition to those of lalibela, there are many rock-churches in the surrounding area; the
prominent ones are listed in the table below.
 The execution of many of the churches mentioned in the table above dated to the 6th
century
and attributed to Kind Kaleb and his son and successor Gebre Meskel. For example; Bilebila
Giorgis, Bilbila Kirkos, Sarzina Mikael, Arbatou Ensesa and Tirkuza Kidane Mihret are believed
to have been built during the reign of King Kaleb. Others such as Emekina Medhane Alem and
Emekina Lideta Mariam were built in the reign of King Gebre Meskel.
 From the built up cave churches, Yimrehane Kristos, located at about 42km North West of
Lalibela, is very impressive and attend high level of development. The church was built within
a cave in wood and stone following the Axumite traditions are exceptional. The church is also
a treasure house of many precious religious objects and remains of many pilgrims. There is
also a palace within the cave in front of the church.
Built-up cave churches Rock-hewn cave (semi-
monolithic) churches
Monolithic rock-hewn church
 Ne’akuto Le’ab
 Emekina Medhane Alem
 Emekina Lideta –Mariam
 Abune Yoseph
 Yimrehane Kirstos
 Abune Habib
 Wale Eyesus
 Fenget Giorgis
 Amba Mariam
 Debre Zemedo-Mariam
(around Kobo)
 Asheten Mariam
 Bilbila Giorgis
 Bilbila Kirkos
 Sarzina Mikael
 Arabtu Ensesa
 Kenkenit Mikael
 Tirkuza Kidane-Mihret
 Wuker Meskele-Kirstos
(Sekota)
 Mawre Estifanos
 Abune Aron
 Genet Mariam
 Bet-Giorgis


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 Abune Yoseph is one of the highest peak in Ethiopia and very popular in the beauty of its
scenery. Besides, the existence of large number of the Red Fox, one of the prominent
endemic mammals of Ethiopia, makes it very famous and attractive.
 Genet Mariam is the only monolithic rock-hewn church outside Lalibela. It is located at about
32km. southeast of Lalibela, not far from the sources of Tekeze River.
 Rock Churches are also found in many areas of the country outside Lalibela and its
surroundings. For example, there are more than 120 rock-hewn churches in Tigray. We have
also many others in other area such as Addis Mariam around Addis Ababa and Zoz Amba
Giorgis in Gondar.
Contact Info:
Kebrabe Matewos, Managing Director
FANOS Ethiopia Tours, Travel and Car Rent
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