Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela

The construction of these rock churches is shrouded in mystery. It is said that King Lalibela was aided by angels who worked alongside the human laborers, allowing the construction to be completed in a miraculous span of 24 years.

A monolithic church or rock-hewn church is a church made from a single block of stone. Because freestanding rocks of sufficient size are rare, such edifices are usually hewn into the ground or into the side of a hill or mountain. They can be of comparable architectural complexity to constructed buildings.

The association of the rock-hewn churches and the traditional vernacular circular houses, in the surrounding area, still demonstrate evidences of the ancient village layout. The original function of the site as a pilgrimage place still persists and provides evidence of the continuity of social practices.