Seeing the History that lies within the Rock Hewn Church's in Lalibella

Standing outside one of  the first Church's we visited

Flying north of the busy city of Addis, Kaylin and I found ourselves in the town of Lalibella. In Ethiopia there is a long history found in the Ethiopian Orthodox church. While other countries may have animals, or oceans, Ethiopia has a rich religious history.

Lalibella has the highest concentration of these magnificent rock-hewn church's. 11 church's sit in two groups and the small town is built up around it. Each church is carved entirely out of a single block of granite with the roof of the church sitting at ground level. We also visited a church on our last day that was built into a cave. Our guide explained this was to protect the church's from attacks.

Upon our arrival we found our tour guide at the airport, and dropped our bags at our wonderful hotel  Panoramic View hotel  ( http://www.panoramicviewhotel.com/ ). The name was not an over sell! Our room had a breathtaking view over the green valley. Waking up in the morning, from bed we could enjoy the view and eagles sore over the valley.

After a quick lunch and refreshing nap we headed out to the first grouping of church's. Our guide filled our head with facts and we tried our best to take it all in. Covering our heads and removing our shoes it felt like we were stepping back in time. The ceilings, the paintings, the ancient crosses that had been kept. Ethiopia is influenced as a nation by the orthodox religion and understanding more of their history contributes to understanding the locals we work along side and live among.

The king Lalibella had the church's constructed in the 12th century. Influenced from a trip to Jerusalem and Jordan, he recreated a the Holy places he saw in Lalibelle with an attempt to being it closer to his African People.

Overlooking from a passageway towards where the people
of Lalibella lived, this is where the king would make
announcements to his kingdom. 

Taking time over two afternoons we explored all the passageways and rock ledges as we traveled from church to church. Being rainy season we were not going to escape the rain, but it did force us to stop in the door way of a church we were about to leave and slow down. In  stead of rushing to see everything as fast as we could, it forced us to slow our pace from time to time.

 My favourite part of Lalibella was the landscape that surrounded us. Green hills and valley's that plunged deep down with settlements in clusters scattered

Another place outside of a Church the king would come to

St George's Church is the most magnificent of them all.
A single carving in the rock that surrounds it. 

A last addition to our tour, but a highlight for me, seeing the cave church. Climbing down the steps towards the crack in the earth, the structure of the church comes better into view. 

If one is ever in Ethiopia Lalibella is an area not to miss. If not for the church's but for the landscape that holds the church's. It made returning to Addis a bit more difficult!