Lalibela Is Ethiopia’s Monolithic Church Capital

Photo by mulugeta wolde on Unsplash

Ethiopia is one of the most fascinating countries in North Africa. One thing that makes it completely unique from others on the continent, is the fact that it has never been colonized. That’s allowed it to preserve its history and past traditions. In the 4th century, Christianity was introduced to the country and it is now one of the oldest Churches in the world. A trip to Lalibela and a visit to the monolithic churches highlights this important part of history. 

History

The town of Lalibela dates back to the 7th century when the monolithic churches were hewn from the rock in the area. As they are some of the oldest Christian churches on the planet, they are considered to be a very holy site. This has led pilgrims and travelers to the area for centuries. Each church has been hewn into the rock, and when viewed from above it’s in the image of a cross. 

The name Lalibela, is derived from a local saint who is believed to have made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. After seeing the old city, Labilela returned to the area and began building his own monuments to create his own mini-Jerusalem.

These monuments are well worth a visit for any travelers tp Ethiopia. You will feel as if you have stepped back in time, as you wander around.