Bete Medhane Alem (“House of the Savior of the World”) is an Ethiopian Orthodox church located in Lalibela, Amhara region, Ethiopia, built during the 13th century under Emperor Gebre Mesqel Lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty. It is part of the eleven rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The church was modeled after the Church of Saint Mary of Zion in Aksum, which was destroyed in 1535 by the forces of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi.
Bete Medhane Alem is the largest and tallest monolithic church in Lalibela, measuring 34 meters in length, 24 meters in width, and 11 meters in height. Its construction required the removal of 15,000 cubic meters of rock from the courtyard and an additional 10,000 cubic meters from the interior. The church’s design includes a basilica-style layout, five naves—a unique feature in Ethiopia—and a surrounding colonnade of 34 rectangular pillars. The roof is sculpted into a pitched, two-paned style. Although it lacks painted decorations, the church is an architectural masterpiece and remains a significant place of worship. Today, it is protected by a suspended roof to preserve its structure.
- Address
22MV+FG7, Lalibela, Ethiopia - Web
None - Visiting Hours
Everyday from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00 - What to see
Church carved in the Rock
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