Kingdoms and Monuments of Afre Kh: Church of Saint George, Lalibela (Ethiopia)

FEELNUBIA PRESENTS: The Church of St. George at Lalibela.

The Church of Saint George (also known as Bete Giyorgis) has been referred to as the “eighth wonder of the world”. It is the most well-known of the eleven monolithic Churches located in Ethiopia. Located in Lalibela, a city in the Amhara Region, the church was built in the 12th century, and carved out of stone. Cross-shaped, its dimensions are 25 meters by 25 meters by 30 meters and there is a small baptismal pool outside the church, which stands in an artificial trench.  According to Ethiopian cultural history, the church was built after King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty had a vision in which he was instructed by God to construct the church. The church was named after Saint George, the Saint who reportedly delivered God’s message to the King in the vision.

Bete Giyorgis is the most stunning of all the eleven churches, situated apart from the others to the west. Like the other churches, the Church of Saint George is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is still a pilgrimage site for members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church