Situated high in Ethiopia’s arid mountains, a two-day drive
from the city of Addis Ababa, lies the tiny town of Lalibela. Home to Ethiopia’s
kings during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, this rural town of winding
stone-paved streets holds some of the country’s most awe-inspiring,
pilgrimage-worthy churches.
What makes these eleven churches so noteworthy is that they
are carved directly into the mountainside. The rock-cut churches of Lalibela
represent a variety of architectural styles and proudly display the nation’s
deeply engrained religious history.
Arranged in two clusters, the churches are linked by
chiseled channels and tunnels, some of which require walking for relatively
long distances in pitch dark (especially if you were silly enough to ignore the
guidebook’s suggestion to bring a flashlight).
Though the churches are named after King Lalibela based on
his claim to have built them all, many scholars believe that the churches, or
at least some of them, may have actually been built earlier. Legend says that
King Lalibela was exiled to Jerusalem by his brother, after which he vowed to
build a new holy city on his return. According to local myth, the construction
was done during the day by residents and aided at night by the help of angels.
Regardless of the doubtful holy help, the churches of
Lalibela are incredible, a massive testament to dedication and hard work at
human hands.
