The church is located in a mountainous region in the heart of Ethiopia, some 645 km from Addis Ababa, and what is interesting about the church, it was carved downward into a rock.

The church was carved from a type of limestone called tufa and the sole building material used in the structure.

It has been dated to the late 12th century AD, and thought to have been constructed during the reign of King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela, of the late Zagwe dynasty.

http://www.alluringworld.com/church-of-st-george/

historic indeed

The church of St. George stands proud in a 25m by 25m wide pit that is carved out of solid volcanic rock.

The construction of the church involved excavating a free-standing block of stone out of the bed-rock and then removing all the waste material from around it.

The stone masons then carefully chiseled away the church outline, shaping both the exterior and interior of the building as they went (according to record).

They fashioned a simple yet exceptionally beautiful cruciform structure approximately 12m high.


The curves, shapes/lines are too precise, perfect and too accurate for diggers or chisel.

The tools, equipments used 900 years ago remains a mystery.


http://www.alluringworld.com/church-of-st-george/

Nobody knows the equipment used to carve or construct the church or how long the construction took.

No one knows for sure if the Church of Saint George was completed in Lalibela’s lifetime, or if it was constructed after he died in an attempt to honor his legacy.

The cross-shaped stone church has been a popular site for Christian pilgrims since it was first constructed many centuries ago.

Lalibela’s sunken network of stone churches appear impossible to access to the untrained eye, but a keen observer will note that there is a small man-made entrance that grants access to the holy stone structures.

Countless Christian pilgrims dressed in white have flocked to the Church of Saint George to pray and express their commitment to their unwavering Christian faith.


Many years ago, st George church became UNESCO world heritage site.

http://www.alluringworld.com/church-of-st-george/

So many historic sites in Africa.

Only if we can start embracing what we have.

Modified
Did you know?

Hundreds of tourists travel to Europe every year to have a glimpse of monuments from the middle ages.
Can't we do same in Africa?

The great Wall of Benin_Nigeria
The Great Sphinx of Giza_Egypt
Leptis Magna_Libya

Interior.

http://www.alluringworld.com/church-of-st-george/

ah shit!

here we go again!

this post is finna reach front page.

It's Explorers again

Panra ran ran raaa...panra ran ran raaa...paron ran run run ruuuun

Surely, goodness & mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life & i will dwell in the house of the lord, forever & ever Amen.

please lemme book space here... wanna do something real quick

Solid building!


The ones we build can't stand for 20yrs, that's if they don't crumble during construction.

Explorers on the thread..

What's the significance of this cross sign we christians use? If the Romans had used a gun to kill Jesus, will the symbol of Christianity be a gun?

Just wondering

Wow

Seen it before..... Had to comment since its front page bound

Hmmm...... the church.was built from top to bottom. If they had carried away the surrounding rock.... leaving the church standing all alone on level land.... I wonder what we would be hearing the experts .

Why are they on whites like some Awo cultist

Things has happened in the past and things are still happening now....

I feel mankind has not yet grasp the enormity of the events of the past that shaped our present.

If you had watched the documentary about this church, on Channel 186 on DSTV, sometimes last month... You will be wowed.

This is really beautiful

Cool

Awesome and beautiful explorer nice one you keep enlighten us.

Why is it called St. George Church instead of King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela (of the late Zagwe dynasty) church?

Africa!
There is a belief that Angels built the underground churches at Lalibela.
This is just awesome.
Why is this not among the Wonders of the World?

Africa!
There is a belief that Angels built the underground churches at Lalibela.
This is just awesome.
Why is this not among the Wonders of the World?

Amazingly wonderful.

Amazing

Would be nice seeing more of the interior

This is amazing