Lalibela is a town in the wild rugged mountains some 2630 meters above sea level in Northern Ethiopia . Wonder is piled upon wonder in Ethiopia , but nothing prepared me for the rock-hewn churches in this town. Here, 800 years ago, King Lalibela decreed that 11 churches be carved out of the bare rock landscape. Some of the churches are 10 meters high and all have been carved by thousands of hands completely underground or out of the walls of caves, surrounded by trenches and walled courtyard. They are connected to each other by a maze of dark tunnels and passageways. Each church is different and unique in size and shape; carved and decorated with symbols from the bible. The churches of Lalibella are like a village within a village. Today archaeologists are divided on how this astonishing feat was achieved.

WITH OFFICIAL GUIDE AND FRIENDS NICOLA AND NEOMI
CHANTING ROOM
CHURCH PRIEST
Next to him, in small crevices that had been carved out of the rock wall, lay the bones of someof his deceased predecessors. Lalibela churches are not crumbling monuments of a lost civilization, but an 800 year old active Christian community and shrine; the living soul of the Christian Orthodox tradition in Ethiopia, the second-oldest Christian country on earth. On religious feast days, such as timkat -
Lalibela is as magnificent as
The chanting, drum beats and swaying of the priests and deacons is a scene to behold! I feel as if though I was witnessing a scene from 800 years ago. The churches are living and breathing monument with scenes from centuries ago acted out every morning.
MEN AND WOMEN HAVE SEPARATE ENTRANCES TO THE CHURCH
SITTING OUTSIDE CHURCH GOLGOTHA; WOMEN ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE
This is the entrance to Church Golgotha, women are not permitted to enter.In three words! Lalibella is awesome! No traveler to
4 comments:
Totlly awesome...
Fascinating....
Linda thanks for sharing. This is unbelievable. What an experience! I never knew this existed. Thanks for sharing with us. This alone makes me want to go to Ethiopia.
Truly amazing. I can't imagine what it must be like to see this in person. Really an eye opener.
Thanks for sharing.
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