Lalibela, Part 2

I finally finished going through my photos from Ethiopia, and have compiled a few more images from Lalibela. The history from this region of the world extends beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. We’re not just talking hundreds here – this part of the world has history going back thousands of years.

King Lalibela built this town to be a stony replica of Jerusalem in the 13th century, so it is full of symbolism. Every doorway, stairway and window has a meaning.

I heard the songs of orthodox priests fill the air all hours of the day & night, traversed a pitch black tunnel of more than 100 feet (can you say claustrophobia and uh, yeah, bats?!), and viewed the graves of religious giants from generations past. I tried my best to capture the heart of these dedicated people that transcend time and geographic locale.

High Priest

Priest reading scripture

Day of Our Saviour service at St. Michael’s

St. Michael’s

High Priest at St. Michael’s

Separating chaff from the wheat, one grain at a time

The Star of David

Notice the nun reading scripture in the window

A tomb carved out of stone

Wall of an ancient church

St. George’s church

St. George’s church

St. George’s church

St. George’s church

St. George’s church

Tomb carved out of stone

This was the last thing I saw prior to the 100-foot pitch black tunnel

Crosses carved out of a stone wall

Nuns sleep here – a bed carved out of the stone wall

Priest staves

A waxy candlestick in the window

Shepherds

Stairway to a stone grave

Holy scripture

Ancient priestly artifact

Ancient priestly artifacts

On the edge of the earth

Lonely soul

Roadway overlooking the town of Lalibela

Priest praying at St. Michael’s church

Priest in a doorway at St. Michael’s church

Ancient door