Coordinates: 12°01′54″N 39°02′28″E

Church of Saint George, Lalibela

The Church of Saint George (Amharic: Bete Giyorgis) is one
Church of Saint George
of eleven rock-hewn monolithic churches in Lalibela, a town in
the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Originally named Roha ቤት ጊዮርጊስ
(Warwar), the historical and religious site was named Lalibela
after the King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty,
who commissioned its construction. He is regarded as a saint
by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Contents
History
See also
Church of St. George, rock-hewn in the
References shape of a cross
External links

History Church of
Saint
George

Location within Ethiopia

12°01′54″N 39°02′28″E
Bete Giyorgis (Church of St. George) Location Lalibela
from above, one of the rock-hewn
churches of Lalibela
Country Ethiopia
Denomination Ethiopian Orthodox
The Church of Saint George was carved downwards from a Tewahedo Church
type of volcanic tuff. This is the sole architectural material that Architecture
was used in the structure. It has been dated to the late 12th or Architectural church
early 13th century AD, and thought to have been constructed type
during the reign of King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela, of the late
Zagwe dynasty.[1] It is among the best known and last built of
the eleven churches in the Lalibela area, and has been referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".[2]
Lalibela, King of Ethiopia, sought to recreate Jerusalem, and structured the churches' landscape and
religious sites in such a way as to achieve such a feat. “The churches at Lalibela are clustered in two major
groups, one representing the earthly Jerusalem, and the other representing the heavenly Jerusalem. Located
directly between them is a trench representing the River Jordan”. The dimensions of the trench are 25
meters by 25 meters by 30 meters,[3] and there is a small baptismal pool outside the church, which stands in
an artificial trench.
According to Ethiopian cultural history, Bete Giyorgis was built after King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela of the
Zagwe dynasty had a vision in which he was instructed to construct the church; Saint George[4][5] and
God[2] have both been referred to as the one who gave him the instructions.

Lalibela is a pilgrimage site for members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church; the church itself is
part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela".[6]

On first approach the site appears wholly inaccessible, with sheer drops on every side and no access bridge.
It is accessed via a very narrow man-made canyon, spiralling downwards, which changes to a tunnel close
to the church, to further conceal its presence.

Pilgrims who died after reaching the site are placed in a simple open tomb on the outer walls.

The hollowed interior contains a simple shrine to St. George and, behind a curtain (forbidden to view apart
from priests) lies a replica of the Ark of the Covenant.

Bete Giyorgis was spatially documented in 2005.[7][8]

See also
List of colossal sculpture in situ
Saint George: Devotions, traditions and prayers

References
1. Moriarty, Colm. "St. George's Church, Ethiopia" (http://irisharchaeology.ie/2013/04/st-george
s-church-ethiopia/). Irish Archaeology. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
2. "Lalibela:The Eighth Wonder of the World" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130121073219/ht
tp://taipei.tzuchi.org.tw/tzquart/2000fa/qf3.htm). Tzu Chi Foundation. Archived from the
original (http://taipei.tzuchi.org.tw/tzquart/2000fa/qf3.htm) on 21 January 2013. Retrieved
10 November 2006.
3. "Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela" (http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ethiopia/lalibela.ht
m). Sacred Destinations. Retrieved 10 November 2006.
4. "The recording of Bet Giorgis" (http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/archaeology/gene
ral/archg0012pf.htm). GIS Development. Retrieved 10 November 2006.
5. "Ethiopia" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130301031906/http://www.diplomatist.com/page/e
thiopia.htm). L.B. Associates (Pvt) Limited. Archived from the original (http://www.diplomatist.
com/page/ethiopia.htm) on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2006.
6. "Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela" (https://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=18).
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 10 November
2006.
7. Ruhter, Heinz. "An African Heritage Database" (https://www.isprs.org/proceedings/xxxiv/6-w
6/papers/ruther.pdf) (PDF). isprs.org.
8. 3D model of Bete Giyorgis (https://zamaniproject.org/site-ethiopia-lalibela-rock-hewn-church
es.html)

External links
Fine Art Photos from the Church (http://careynash.com/st-george-in-the-morning-alberta-fine-
art-africa-fine-art/)
 Gallery of photos of the church's interior and exterior (http://www.galenfrysinger.com/lalibela
_ethiopia.htm)
Info on the church of Lalibela (http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ethiopia/lalibela)
A 3D representation of the church of Lalibela (https://sketchfab.com/models/3b1bb86b99e34
214aea36873a41280fb)

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This page was last edited on 11 January 2022, at 08:55 (UTC).

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