Lalibela Today

Nowadays, Lalibela is considered one of the holiest cities in Ethiopia. It also serves as a center of pilgrimage for much of the country. Unlike other holiest historical cities, the population of Lalibela consists almost entirely of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.

Sights

Lalibela is the host of an extraordinary sight. These are the rock-cut churches, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The churches are grouped into the Northern, Western, and Eastern groups.

The Northern group Earthly Jerusalem:
Biete Medhane Alem (House of the Savior of the World), home to the Lalibela Cross/Afro Ayigeba/. It is also believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, Biete Maryam (House of Maryam/House of Mary), possibly the oldest of the churches, Biete Golgotha Mikael (House of Golgotha-Debre sina), known for its arts, and said to contain the tomb of King Lalibela, Biete Maskal (House of the Cross), Biete Denagel (House of Virgins).
The Eastern group Heavenly Jerusalem:
Biete Amanuel (House of Emmanuel), Biete Qeddus Mercoreus (House of St. Mercoreos), Biete Abba Libanos (House of Abbot Libanos), and Biete Gabriel-Rufael (House of the angels Gabriel, and Raphael).
The Western group Noah’s Arch :
Biete Giyorgis (Church of Saint George), said the emblem of St.Lalibela churches, and symbolized by Noah’s Arch.

The Portuguese explorer Pêro da Covilhã/Priest Alvarez of Portugal/ ended his description of the Lalibela churches by saying:

“I weary of writing more about these buildings, because it seems to me that I shall not be believed if I write more ... I swear by God, in Whose power I am, that all I have written is the truth.”

Holidays

Major Holidays in
St.Lalibela Monastery

At St. Lalibela Monastery, religious services are conducted throughout the year, with major holy days including Christmas, Epiphany (Timket), Easter, Ginbot Lideta (Nativity of St. Mary), Sene Michael, Ashendye Lasta-Lalibela, and Ethiopian New Year.

Center for Societal Obligation

As one of its societal obligations, the Monastery Administration established a support center for elderly and orphaned children in 2008. In 2016, it further expanded its services by establishing a kindergarten and full-cycle elementary school. Additionally, the Monastery Administration actively participates in various community development endeavors, both locally and nationally.