Spiritual Lalibela

Devotion, mysticism and sacredness. I like to use these three words to describe Lalibela, the Ethiopian city considered a unique reality in the world with its churches carved into the living rock, created with the intention of giving life to a small Jerusalem.

The mythical Lalibela is one of the most fascinating places on the planet; it might seem too peremptory as a statement but it is enough to touch the grandeur and splendor of it’s underground churches to realize that’s true! It is one of the most sacred and popular places in Ethiopia, a destination for pilgrimages that have continued uninterruptedly since the 12th century, when the city was founded.

Lalibela is the goal of life for a multitude of pilgrims who come here on foot, through ravaged, parched and sun-cracked lands, arriving even from very far away with journeys that sometimes last several months. This peaceful invasion is characterized by an explosion of colors among which the white candor of the “Shamma” worn by pilgrims stands out. The sumptuousness of the damask velvets of the religious and that of the multicolored umbrellas embroidered with gold and silver thread.

Everywhere there is an atmosphere of great devotion and mysticism. Many people take refuge among these rocks to lead a life of prayer. A simple, spartan, essential life.

These images were taken in January 2020 with the intent of documenting some aspects of this ancient and mysterious Christian current that has always fascinated me.

Bet Giyorgis is the pride of Lalibela. The uniqueness of this cruciform church is that it develops downwards. The people who built it started digging from the ground level and went down for about twelve meters during the works. The building is visible from various observation points. What gives the opportunity to look at the building as a whole is a small hill on the side of the church: from here you can admire the landscape, the plain where the building is excavated and its plan. You can then walk around the roof: if you lean over it you can perfectly observe the depth of the excavation and the exquisite decorations along all the walls of the building.

women meditating and reading the gospel in a church of Lalibela

5 am: In the darkness of the church Bete Maryam some women are meditating and reading the gospel

Pilgrim reading the gospel

Ethiopia travel images. In many Ethiopian churches carved into the rock the reading of sacred texts is still done with the help of wax candles. In this scene we can see the exchange of candles between two Deacons to allow the reading and recitation of the text to continue. In the Ethiopian Orthodox church, candlelight would also symbolize divine light.

Deacon reading the sacred texts aloud. Religious services begin before dawn and can last up to 6-8 hours.

Ethiopia travel photography. Portrait of orthodox Lalibela priest

Spiritual Lalibela

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