Lalibela and The Southeastern Churches - North Ethiopia
King Lalibela created these amazing churches over 800 years ago. The churches were carved from soft, red volcanic rock. Some lie almost completely hidden in deep trenches, while others stand in open, quarried caves. A labyrinth of tunnels and narrow passageways connect them all while some of the passageways are filled with crypts and grottoes. ...View image...
Lalibela is located in the Lasta Mountains at an elevation of 2,630m/8,628' and if these churches didn't resemble Petra, I don't know what does. Primarily because of the gorgeous hues...oranges, sherbet, rose pink, constantly changing in the sunlight . FYI: Bet means church.
Back to Bet Gyiorgis (St. George) for Sunday services. Today, the unbelievable cruciform church was surrounded by worshippers in white with priests holding services inside the church, ...View image...on the perimeter and in all the other churches. People selling wax and beeswax candles on the street, singing, clapping, ululations...if only all religious services could be so engrossing.
There was another priest preaching to his flock on a hill with a sermon on Lent, starting the next day. I swear, we both felt as if Jesus was preaching to the multitudes thousands of years ago...
While this elderly man concentrated on his prayers, the children were more interested in us... Right after I took this photo, they got a big scolding from their parents for not paying attention to the service...
