⛪ Lalibela Rock-Hewn Churches
Ethiopia
About This Sacred Site
Lalibela in northern Ethiopia is home to eleven remarkable medieval churches carved entirely from single blocks of living rock in the 12th-13th century. Commissioned by King Lalibela to create a 'New Jerusalem' for Ethiopian Christians who could not make the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, these monolithic churches are still actively used for worship today. The Church of St. George (Bete Giyorgis), carved in the shape of a cross, is the most iconic and photographed.
Key Facts
- •All eleven churches were carved from solid volcanic rock
- •Built during the reign of King Lalibela in the 12th-13th century
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978
- •The churches are still actively used for daily worship
- •Connected by a series of underground tunnels and passageways
Location
Coordinates: 12.0319, 39.0422
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