ROCK HEWN CHURCHES OF LALIBELA

Following the decline of the Axsumite Empire, power shifted in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries to Roha in Lasta District. This was renamed for King Lalibela (1181-1221) of the Zagwe Dynasty which ruled in Lalibela for more than a century. The construction of eleven rock-hewn churches is attributed to King Lalibela. The buildings are monolithic, carved from a sloping mass of red volcanic scoria underlaid by dark grey basalt and interconnected by a maze of tunnels and passages with openings to hermit caves and catacombs. Some are of the basilica type, having archaic features and imitating architectural elements from earlier periods, yet they differ in design and style. Two are decorated with interesting wall paintings and carved figures. The Lalibela churches are included in the World Heritage List; the principal edifices are the Churches of Medhane Alem, Maryam, Ammanuel, Giyorgis and Golgota-Mikaïl. In Lalibela, you will find 11 Churches divided in to two main groups of churches, one on each side of the river Jordan and one other church set apart from the rest. The town of Roha -Lalibela lies between the first and the second group of churches. It is situated on the higher part of a mountain-terrace on a vast plateau of rock. At Timkat (Ethiopian Epiphany. ca. January 19) A vivid ritual unfolds before the spectator: here the dances of the priests take place after the annual repetition of mass baptism in the river Jordan.

The first group of the church

 Bete Mariyam, Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Meskel, Bete Denaghel, Bete Golgotha.

The second group of the church

 Bete Amanuel, Bete Merkorios, Bete Abba Libanos, Bete Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Giorgis.