WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -In a mountainous region in the heart of Ethiopia, some 645 km from Addis Ababa, eleven medieval monolithic churches were carved out of rock. Their building is attributed to King Lalibela who set out to construct in the 12th century a ‘New Jerusalem’, after Muslim conquests halted Christian pilgrimages to the holy Land.

Detailed explanation-2: -Lalibela, the best-known Zagwe emperor, ruled at the beginning of the 13th century and is known for building the monolithic rock-hewn churches at the Zagwe capital, which was later renamed for him.

Detailed explanation-3: -In the 12th Century, devout King Lalibela went to Jerusalem where he had a vision of Jesus Christ, who ordered him to build a church from a single block of stone. Unlike Saint Peter, who interpreted the idea of building a church on a rock as a metaphor, King Lalibela took the words of Christ literally.

Detailed explanation-4: -The churches were carved around the year 1200 by people called the Zagwe. Their king, Lalibela, is said to have traveled the 1, 600 miles to Jerusalem. Legend has it, when he returned and Jerusalem fell to the Islamic conquest, Lalibela ordered a new home for Christianity.

Detailed explanation-5: -Origins. Northern Cluster. Bet Maryam (House of Mary), Bet Meskel (House of the Cross) and Bet Denagel (House of Virgins) Bet Golgotha and Mikael (House of Golgotha Mikael) Biete Giyorgis (House of Saint George) Southern Cluster. Bet Abba Libanos (House of Abbot Libanos) and Bet Leham. More items