Skip to content

In pictures: The churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia

News imageFrank Gardner St George at LalibelaFrank Gardner
Carved in stone: the extraordinary 12th Century Church of St George at Lalibela. Part of a World Heritage site, it took more than 20 years to carve this church out of the mountainside.
News imageFrank Gardner Baptism in a church in Lalibela, priests presiding on the leftFrank Gardner
Many Ethiopians trek for miles to reach these churches in time for Palm Sunday. Here a Baptism is taking place.
News imageFrank Gardner Church of St Giorgis of LalibelaFrank Gardner
Glimpsed from a cave: the lichen-covered Church of St Giorgis of Lalibela. This church is considered worldwide as the apex of monolithic religious architecture.
News imageFrank Gardner Father WedajFrank Gardner
Father Wedaj, who guards the Church of St Giorgis. He blessed those who made a special effort to reach his church at Easter, which is 8 April in the Orthodox calendar.
News imageFrank Gardner An Ethiopian nun at the Church of St Mary of Zion in AxumFrank Gardner
An Ethiopian nun at the Church of St Mary of Zion in Axum. The red carpet has been laid out in preparation for the Lent Procession around the church.
News imageFrank Gardner An Ethiopian monk reads the BibleFrank Gardner
Prayer and contemplation. An Ethiopian monk reads the Bible against the wall of the Monastery at St Mary of Zion in Axum.
News imageFrank Gardner A pilgrim (left) passes a nun (right) in a subterranean tunnel carvedFrank Gardner
A chance encounter: a pilgrim (left) passes a nun (right) in a subterranean tunnel carved into the 12th Century church complex at Lalibela.
News imageFrank Gardner Lent ProcessionFrank Gardner
Lent Procession, led by priests, hundreds of pilgrims walk three times around the Church of St Mary of Zion in Axum, asking for forgiveness.
News imageFrank Gardner Church of St Mary of ZionFrank Gardner
High security sanctuary: the chapel in the Church of St Mary of Zion where the Ark of the Covenant is alleged to be kept.