"Rock hewn Churches" a Lalibela Travel Page by Ramonq

What drove the Orthodox priests to dig the reddish rocks and carve an entire complex of churches in such a remote and hilly location? I was constantly asking this question whilst wandering around the maze of tunnels and trenches that lead to some underground monolithic temple. These were no ordinary looking structures. The whole church was hewn from a single hard solid rock and they were embellished with Christian symbols of medieval styles. Whatīs even more amazing is that the massive solid blocks were hollowed out from inside with pillars and windows just like an old cathedral.

I also wondered why this particular location was chosen? The church complex is certainly located in a beautiful setting surrounded by verdant hills and rich fertile land. One cannot believe that the area was one of the worst affected area during the severe drought and famine in Ethiopia during the 1980īs, made infamous by the Live Aid concerts. Most of the residents of Lalibela are subsistent farmers and even though the farms appear fertile, an onslaught of drought can be catastrophic. Majority of the people live simple rustic lives but they appear so contented with the little that they have.