Lalibela is a town in northern Ethiopia. Lalibela means "Eat honey". It is at roughly 2,500 m (8,200 ft) altitude. It is famous for its monolithic rock-hewn churches. These churches are carved out of solid rock. They were likely built in the 12th and 13th century.
There are three groups of these churches (Biete means House).
Northern Group:
Biete Medhane Alem (House of the Saviour of the World), home to the Lalibela Cross and believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, probably a copy of St Mary of Zion in Aksum.
Biete Maryam (House of Miriam/House of Mary), possibly the oldest of the churches, and a replica of the Tombs of Adam and Christ.
Biete Golgotha Mikael (House of Golgotha Mikael), known for its arts and said to contain the tomb of King Lalibela.
Biete Meskel (House of the Cross)
Biete Denagel (House of Virgins)
Western Group:
Biete Giyorgis (House of Saint George), thought to be the most finely executed and best preserved church
Eastern Group:
Biete Amanuel (House of Emmanuel), possibly the former royal chapel
Biete Qeddus Mercoreus (House of St. Mercoreus/House of St. Mark), which may be a former prison
Biete Abba Libanos (House of Abbot Libanos)
Biete Gabriel-Rufael (House of the angels Gabriel and Raphael) possibly a former royal palace, linked to a holy bakery.
View of Lalibela. (1053k) View of traditional Lalibela. The round huts are traditional houses. (1169k) Old Lalibela. (1027k) Traditional house. (947k) View of modern Lalibela. (865k) View of Biete Maryam (center) and Biete Medhane Alem (right). (1099k) Grave sites near the rock churches. (1344k)
Biete Maryam
House of Mary, possibly the oldest of the churches, a replica of the Tombs of Adam and Christ.
Biete Maryam (House of Mary). (708k) Biete Maryam (House of Mary) with a baptism pool in the foreground. (825k) Inside of Biete Maryam (House of Mary). (656k) Decorations in Biete Maryam (House of Mary). (842k) Paintings in Biete Maryam (House of Mary). (852k) Inside of Biete Maryam (House of Mary). (704k) Inside of Biete Maryam (House of Mary). (824k) Painting inside of Biete Maryam (House of Mary). (982k) Stone carved relief inside of Biete Maryam (House of Mary). (1082k) Stone carved relief inside of Biete Maryam (House of Mary). (980k) Windows on Biete Maryam (House of Mary). (953k) Ceiling decorations in Biete Maryam (House of Mary). (847k) Priests with ceremonial drums. (891k) Worshipers near Biete Maryam (House of Mary). (860k)
Biete Medhane Alem
House of the Saviour of the World, believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world.
Biete Medhane Alem (House of the Saviour of the World). (785k) Biete Medhane Alem (House of the Saviour of the World). (888k) Windows on Biete Medhane Alem (House of the Saviour of the World). (838k) Decorations on Biete Medhane Alem (House of the Saviour of the World). (1197k) Inside of Biete Medhane Alem (House of the Saviour of the World). All the pillars are part of the solid rock out of which the church was carved. (740k) Inside of Biete Medhane Alem (House of the Saviour of the World). (1033k) Easter celebration in Biete Medhane Alem. (652k) Easter celebration in Biete Medhane Alem. (622k) Easter celebration in Biete Medhane Alem. It was VERY crowded in that church. (703k) Priest, studying. (899k)
Biete Meskel
House of the Cross. This is a small monolithic church, next to Biete Maryam.
Biete Meskel (House of the Cross). (982k) Windows on Biete Meskel (House of the Cross). (1174k)
Biete Giyorgis
This is the most finely executed and best preserved church in Lalibela.
Biete Giyorgis (House of Saint George). (948k) Biete Giyorgis (House of Saint George). (1239k) Entrance to Biete Giyorgis (House of Saint George). (708k) Path down to the entrance of Biete Giyorgis (House of Saint George). (915k) Inside of Biete Giyorgis. (650k) Inside of Biete Giyorgis. (901k) Painting in Biete Giyorgis. This painting is 500 years old. It shows St. George slaying the dragon. (810k)
Biete Gabriel-Rufael
House of the angels Gabriel and Raphael, possibly a former royal palace, linked to a holy bakery. It is currently not an active church. Scholars think this church may have been a fortified palace for Aksumite royalty in the 7th and 8th centuries.
This church has two rooms. The second room can only be reached through a small door from the first room. It has a door that leads to the king's sun platform.
Biete Gabriel-Rufael in the background. (1186k) Biete Gabriel-Rufael with the kings sun platform on the right. It can only be reached through the church. On the left you can just see the bridge that is the only access to this church. (1029k) Wood entrance door. (1039k) Inside of Biete Gabriel-Rufael. (734k) Painting in Biete Gabriel-Rufael. (962k) Door to the second room in Biete Gabriel-Rufael. (725k) The second room of Biete Gabriel-Rufael with the door to the king's sun platform. (619k) Painting in Biete Gabriel-Rufael. (975k) Hermit cave near Biete Gabriel-Rufael. (1050k) Path between Biete Gabriel-Rufael and Biete Amanuel. (926k)
Biete Amanuel
House of Emmanuel, possibly the former royal chapel. It is a free standing church. It is an active church.
Biete Amanuel. (710k) Biete Amanuel. (606k) Window in Biete Amanuel. (1205k) Inside Biete Amanuel. (763k) Painting in Biete Amanuel. (1005k) Baptism pool at Biete Amanuel. (707k) Ceiling in Biete Amanuel. (648k) Inside Biete Amanuel. (622k) Inside Biete Amanuel. (723k) Priest guarding the inner sanctum in Biete Amanuel. (767k) Youths studying scripture. (1039k) Worshiper at Biete Amanuel. (824k)
Biete Abba Libanos
Biete Abba Libanos (House of Abbot Libanos) is carved into the cliff face with a path all the way round, thus forming a cave.
Biete Abba Libanos. (758k) The cave behind Biete Abba Libanos. (933k) Path to Biete Abba Libanos. (959k) In the path to Biete Abba Libanos. (759k)
Biete Lehem
House of Holy Bread. It is one of the smaller churches. From Biete Lehem you take a tunnel to Biete Qeddus Mercoreus. It is dark and narrow.
Biete Lehem. (941k) Stairs to the tunnel between Biete Lehem and Biete Qeddus Mercoreus. (785k)
Biete Qeddus Mercoreus
House of St. Mercoreus/House of St. Mark, which may be a former prison.
Biete Qeddus Mercoreus. (824k) Inside Biete Qeddus Mercoreus. (722k) The stone bell at Biete Qeddus Mercoreus. (1152k) Exit from the tunnel between Biete Lehem and Biete Qeddus Mercoreus. (804k) Saint Marco, a roman saint, killing an invader, painting in Biete Qeddus Mercoreus. (838k) Religious painting in Biete Qeddus Mercoreus. (743k)
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