In a mountainous region in the heart of Ethiopia, 400 miles from Addis Ababa, stand eleven medieval monolithic churches carved out of rock. Their construction is attributed to King Lalibela, who was the emperor of Ethiopia from the end of the twelfth century to the beginning of the thirteenth.
The layout and symbolism
The buildings are clustered into two groups, one representing the earthly Jerusalem, the other the heavenly. Running through the center of the complex is a channel, which symbolizes the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. The landscape of the churches, plus surrounding religious sites, all reference the Holy City.
The Earthly and Heavenly Jerusalem
On the north side of the channel are Biete Medhani Alem (House of the Savior of the World), Biete Mariam (House of Mary), Biete Meskel (House of the Cross), Biete Denagel (House of Virgins), and Biete Golgotha Mikael (House of Golgotha Mikael).
On the south side stand Biete Amanuel (House of Emmanuel), Biete Qeddus Mercoreus (House of Saint Mercoreos), Biete Abba Libanos (House of Abbot Libanos), Biete Gabriel Raphael (House of Gabriel Raphael), and Biete Lehem (House of Holy Bread).
The eleventh church, Biete Giyiorgis (House of Saint George), stands apart from the others on the north side, but is connected by a system of trenches. The last built of the eleven, it has been dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World”.
While the churches form a complex, each one has its own unique characteristics and treasures.
Biete Medhani Alem (House of the Savior of the World)
Like the other churches, its precise date of construction is unknown; however, it has been determined that the church was built between the 7th and 13th centuries. It is believed to have been King Lalibela’s private house of worship and possibly served as the model for the others.
Biete Medhani Alem (House of the Savior of the World), with its five aisles, is believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world at 8,000 square feet. The exterior is decorated with carved windows and blind arcades imitating Aksumite wood-and-stone construction. The interior features five aisles, which represent the wounds of Christ. This feature connects the building to His passion and sacrifice.
Symbolism of the Structure
The churches are carved directly from volcanic tuff. The reddish hue of the tuff is the result of the high natural iron oxide content. In Ethiopian Orthodox tradition, the color red symbolizes the blood of Christ, which represents sacrifice, redemption, and divine love. Because Lalibela was conceived as a “new Jerusalem”, the natural red stone further deepened the theological symbolism of the site. Lalibela was a sacred landscape, crafted from living earth, marked by the color of sacrifice and salvation.
The structure features 72 pillars in total, representing the 72 disciples mentioned in Luke 10:1.
A large open courtyard surrounds the church and is used for processions and gatherings. Entering this vast space is likened to entering the Kingdom of God, a physical metaphor for salvation through faith. The church is surrounded by a rectangular trench that symbolizes detachment from the world. This spiritual moat separates the holy from the earthly and represents the baptism and purification one must undergo before entering the divine realm.
Home to the Lalibela Cross
Biete Medhani Alem is also the home of the Lalibela cross. The Lalibela cross is a large, elaborately decorated variation of the Ethiopian-Eritrean processional cross. It is considered one of the nation’s most precious religious and historical heirlooms.
Biete Maryam (House of Mary)
Biete Maryam is often regarded as the spiritual heart of Lalibela and one of the most beautifully symbolic churches. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is particularly respected in Ethiopia, this remains the most popular church among pilgrims.
Built with Aksumite Fluorishes
The one-story structure’s facade features niches, blind windows, and crosses carved in relief, reflecting both functional and symbolic design. Many of the structural features, such as the false wooden beams and recessed windows, were done in the Aksumite style. This serves as a nod to the sacred legacy of Aksum, where the Ark of the Covenant is believed to rest.
Architectural Accents
False Windows: Carved into the walls in Biete Maryam in Aksumite style, imitating wooden architecture.
The church features a variety of cross-shaped false windows. Pictured above are the traditional Latin cross, Saint Andrew’s Cross (X), and one that was appropriated and associated with evil. The symbol, known as a gammadion cross or fylfot in Christian architecture, is an ancient motif used across many cultures for centuries. Before it became the symbol of the Nazi Party in the 20th century, it had various positive meanings, such as well-being and prosperity. In the African culture, it symbolizes good fortune and loyalty.
The Interior
The small interior consists of seven rooms. The vaulted ceilings and walls are decorated with paintings, frescoes, and intricate carvings. Like most Ethiopian churches, it is oriented east to west, with the sanctuary to the east, symbolizing the rising of the Sun of Righteousness (Christ). Light filtering through narrow windows carved near the ceiling creates a spiritual atmosphere. The rays of light represent divine illumination entering the world through Christ.
Notably, there is a fresco of the Star of David on the underside of an arch in the interior.
Symbolism of Mary as the “New” Ark of the Covenant
Located in the center of the church, it is the focal point, the Maqdas. In Lalibela, the Maqdas, or Holy of Holies, is the most sacred part of an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian church. This is where the Tabot, or replica of the Ark of the Covenant, is housed. The Ark of the Covenant was a sacred chest built by the ancient Israelites to house the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. This was considered the physical representation of God’s presence with the Israelites. The Ark is considered so sacred that only priests are allowed to approach it, mirroring the practice in the Temple in Jerusalem. Symbolically, Mary is the Maqdas who “carried” Christ. Thus, Biete Maryam represents Mary as the New Ark, bearing God’s presence within her.
Location
Biete Maryam is centrally located within the Lalibela complex, mirroring Mary’s central role in salvation history. The church is also directly connected to Biete Medhani Alem via tunnels and courtyards. Some scholars suggest the pair represent Christ (Medhani Alem) and His Mother (Maryam) — the two core figures of redemption and intercession.
Special Feature
The northeast corner of the courtyard houses an unassuming algae-covered basin, which is continuously replenished naturally by rainwater and underground seepage. Historically, this pool has been known as the Baptismal or the Fertility Pool.
Used for spiritual purification before entering the holy space, the baptismal represents the River Jordan, where Christ was baptized. Priests often bless the pool during certain ceremonies.
Women who had problems conceiving also bathed in this pool, prayerfully believing it would open their womb. The pool’s fertility symbolism blends Christian and pre-Christian Ethiopian traditions that connected water, women, and life. The Virgin Mary is seen as a source of divine grace and a giver of life, so, by extension, the pool serves as a physical medium for her blessing.
How can it be both?
Ethiopian Orthodox tradition often layers symbolic meanings over a single sacred element. In Christianity, water symbolizes rebirth and cleansing. In popular devotion, it also represents life, fertility, and blessing. Because Biete Maryam is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, water took on a maternal and life-giving symbolism in addition to its baptismal meaning.
Alem and Maryam Together
While Biete Medhani Alem embodies Christ’s redemptive power, Biete Maryam embodies Mary’s intercessory grace and the intimate union humans share with God. The proximity of these two churches mimics the relationship between The Redeemer (Christ) and The Intercessor (Mary) and represents the fullness of divine mercy.
Up Next: Biete Denagel and Biete Meskel
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