After lunch, we continued our church marathon with the southeast cluster.
Bet Gabriel -Raphael is surrounded by a deep tench, with a little bridge that you need to cross to enter the church. One part of the church is dedicated to Gabriel, the other to Raphael. It had the most beautifully decorated door, where I could just make out the remains of painted faces. It was faded, but wonderfully evocative, and I could imagine it, freshly painted, standing out against the red rock.
Bet Abba Libanos has a wonderful legend attached to its origins. It is said to have built overnight by King Lalibela's wife, Meskel Kebre. She had some help though - a group of angels. It is a semi- monolith, attached at the roof.
Bet Emmanuel is a monolith church. The only one in this particular cluster. It is considered to be unique due to the fine and precise rock work. The rock here is also slightly more pink than elsewhere. It has an unusual horizontal groove style that continues inside as well.
Bet Mercurious is a small cave church, which you can see clearly in the pictures. Most of the churches have very modern protective awnings over them to prevent erosion. There are only a few that you can see from the top, although there isn't much to see. That was partially the point. If the churches are sunk deep into the ground, they are nearly invisible to possible invaders or thieves looking at the hills. Nothing like a huge church on top of a hill, visible from miles around, to say, "Come loot me!"
Then it was dinner and bed. It was a long, dusty, physically challenging day, but well worth the effort. Very well worth it.
Bet Gabriel -Raphael is surrounded by a deep tench, with a little bridge that you need to cross to enter the church. One part of the church is dedicated to Gabriel, the other to Raphael. It had the most beautifully decorated door, where I could just make out the remains of painted faces. It was faded, but wonderfully evocative, and I could imagine it, freshly painted, standing out against the red rock.
Bet Abba Libanos has a wonderful legend attached to its origins. It is said to have built overnight by King Lalibela's wife, Meskel Kebre. She had some help though - a group of angels. It is a semi- monolith, attached at the roof.
Bet Emmanuel is a monolith church. The only one in this particular cluster. It is considered to be unique due to the fine and precise rock work. The rock here is also slightly more pink than elsewhere. It has an unusual horizontal groove style that continues inside as well.
Bet Mercurious is a small cave church, which you can see clearly in the pictures. Most of the churches have very modern protective awnings over them to prevent erosion. There are only a few that you can see from the top, although there isn't much to see. That was partially the point. If the churches are sunk deep into the ground, they are nearly invisible to possible invaders or thieves looking at the hills. Nothing like a huge church on top of a hill, visible from miles around, to say, "Come loot me!"
Then it was dinner and bed. It was a long, dusty, physically challenging day, but well worth the effort. Very well worth it.
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