Lalibela. This is why I came to Ethiopia. I have seen pictures of Lalibela but never quite believed what I saw. The 11 rock-cut churches are carved out of living rock – carved straight down into the rock. The churches were the brainchild of King Lalibela (later they named the town after him) in the 12th century, and of course his workmen were using nothing but metal stone-cutting tools and a great deal of patience.
They are all unbelievable. But the most amazing one is dedicated to St. Michael, it’s in Greek cruciform shapem and it’s 15 meters high (or low, since it’s cut into the rock). And they are all used at this time as living churches. It also has a system to drain the water off the roof, and as a result is fairly pristine after all these centuries.
Why cut into the rock? Well, it took away the problem of building materials. And it helped to hide the churches from disbelievers, since you have to be up close to them to see them. Inside, they are lit by the windows and, today, electricity, Originally, the worshipers would have used the same bees-wax candles that the ladies were carrying in the procession to St. Mary this morning.
I’ve been to Angkor Wat, to Macchu Picchu, to Vatican City, to Bagan. This ranks up there as one of the world’s most sacred – and impossible to comprehend – places.
martyhelman 