A 13th-century church that was carved from volcanic rock stands inside a deep pit in the earth — take a closer look

Melissa WellsJul 20, 2023, 20:42 IST

An aerial shot of the top of the Church of St. George.Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Getty Images

Bete Giyorgis, or the Church of St. George, is one of the most stunning churches in the world.
Ethiopia's King Lalibela commissioned the church during his reign more than 800 years ago.

Hewn from red volcanic rock and standing in a deep pit, this centuries-old monument is one of the world's most unique medieval churches.

According to The New York Times, Muslim conquests in 13th-century Africa had halted Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land, leaving many people unable to make the treacherous journey to Jerusalem. Ethiopian King Lalibela, who reigned from around 1181 to 1221 AD, saw an opportunity, envisioning a "New Jerusalem" where Christians could make the pilgrimage, hidden from Muslims invading from the North.

Under his directive, a group of 11 monolithic structures were chiseled out of the nearby red volcanic hills. The final church, however, has been heralded by travel guides as the most impressive, captivating the attention of Coptic Christians for centuries.

Take a closer look at this incredible structure, known as the Church of St. George.

Hidden in the Horn of Africa, a lichen-covered monument called the Church of St. George is heralded by travel guides as the pinnacle of monolithic religious architecture.

The location of the Church of St. George in Lalibela, Ethiopia.Google Maps

Hidden in the Horn of Africa, a lichen-covered monument called the Church of St. George is heralded by travel guides as the pinnacle of monolithic religious architecture.

The church, located in a small village in the Lasta mountains of Ethiopia, is one of the UNESCO-protected Rock-Hewn Churches and a World Heritage Site.

An aerial shot of the Church of St. George in the Lasta Mountains of Ethiopia.Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Getty Images

The Church of St. George was dedicated to Ethiopia's patron saint and took 23 years to complete. It stands 40 feet tall.

The Church of Saint George, one of many churches hewn into the rocky hills of Lalibela, Ethiopia.Bildagentur-online/Getty Images

According to local legend, thousands of laborers worked on the architecture by day, but their work was continued by angels at night.

Aerial side view of Church of St. George.WitR/Shutterstock

Unlike the area's other 10 interconnected churches, the Church of St. George is freestanding inside a square pit.

An aerial shot of the pit and the top of the Church of St. George.Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Getty Images

To enter the structure, visitors and worshippers take stone steps down into the pit where the church stands. Chiseled-out tunnels lead to a labyrinth system of trenches.

Stone steps leading down into the Church of St. George in Lalibela, Ethiopia.Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Getty Images

To enter the structure, visitors and worshippers take stone steps down into the pit where the church stands. Chiseled-out tunnels lead to a labyrinth system of trenches.

The church's interior is dimly lit by high windows and candles. It is considered sacred, containing Bibles, holy water, and devotees.

Upward view of the high windows of the Church of St. George in Lalibela, Ethiopia.Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Getty Images

Near the churches, a village features homes known as Lasta Tukuls or two-story round houses constructed of the local red stone. It is home to about 20,000 people, including a community of priests and monks.

The small village of Lalibela, Ethiopia.LMspencer/Shutterstock

Near the churches, a village features homes known as Lasta Tukuls or two-story round houses constructed of the local red stone. It is home to about 20,000 people, including a community of priests and monks.

The site welcomes thousands of pilgrims that arrive to celebrate events of the Ethiopian Christian calendar.

Worshippers in white dance around the Church of St. George.Amanuel Sileshi/Getty Images

I'm afraid of helicopters but I recently rode in a Sikorsky S-76 from New York to New Jersey. It was actually a really fun and easy way to travel.

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A 13th-century church that was carved from volcanic rock stands inside a deep pit in the earth &mdash; take a closer look

Hidden in the Horn of Africa, a lichen-covered monument called the Church of St. George is heralded by travel guides as the pinnacle of monolithic religious architecture.

The church, located in a small village in the Lasta mountains of Ethiopia, is one of the UNESCO-protected Rock-Hewn Churches and a World Heritage Site.

The Church of St. George was dedicated to Ethiopia's patron saint and took 23 years to complete. It stands 40 feet tall.

According to local legend, thousands of laborers worked on the architecture by day, but their work was continued by angels at night.

Unlike the area's other 10 interconnected churches, the Church of St. George is freestanding inside a square pit.

To enter the structure, visitors and worshippers take stone steps down into the pit where the church stands. Chiseled-out tunnels lead to a labyrinth system of trenches.

The church's interior is dimly lit by high windows and candles. It is considered sacred, containing Bibles, holy water, and devotees.

Near the churches, a village features homes known as Lasta Tukuls or two-story round houses constructed of the local red stone. It is home to about 20,000 people, including a community of priests and monks.

The site welcomes thousands of pilgrims that arrive to celebrate events of the Ethiopian Christian calendar.

A 13th-century church that was carved from volcanic rock stands inside a deep pit in the earth — take a closer look