The eighth wonder of the churches dug in the stone of Ethiopia
.
Somewhere in the heart of Ethiopia is a monumental ensemble of 11 churches dug in stone. A place of pilgrimage for Christians, the Lalibela churches are among the most beautiful Christian monuments in Africa. About this site, the Polish writer Ryszard Kapuściński wrote that it is unfair that he is not among the seven wonders of the world, because he is unrealistic.
The 11 medieval churches dug in stone are in a mountainous area in the heart of Ethiopia in Lalibela. The medieval site is 645km away from the capital Addis Ababa. Their construction is attributed by specialists - King Lalibela, who in the twelfth century proposed to build a new Jerusalem, after the Holy City, conquered by Muslims, was closed to Christians. By building this religious ensemble, the King sought to obtain the support of the mighty Ethiopian Orthodox Church in order to defeat its rivals.
The 11 churches are built to the north and to the east by an artificial canal that represents the Jordan. These are: Biet Medhani (the Savior's House of the World), the largest of all, it is a copy of St. Mary's Cathedral in Aksum and is the largest monolithic church on earth, Biet Mariam (House of Holy Mary), Biet Maskal Holy Cross), Biet Denagel (The House of the Virgins Biet Gologotha Mikael (House of Golgotha and St. Michael) and east of the canal: Biet Amanuel (House of Saint Emanuel) Biet Mercoreos (House of Mercurius) Biet Abba Libanos (Abbey of Lebanon) Biet Gabriel Rafael The House of Saints Gabriel and Rafael), Biet Lehem (House of the Holy Bread) and, apart from the others, Biet Ghirghis (St. George's House, cross-shaped).
The churches were dug in stone. Each church was created by digging a huge ditch with four sides, then digging up to a few meters deep. Thus, immense stone monoliths have been formed in which doors, windows, columns, roofs, etc. have been carved. The ensemble also has an extensive system of sewers, trenches and passages for ceremonies, as well as catacombs. The Ethiopian site is all the more impressive as we think that its construction only used manual work with hammers and hammers.
It is said that Lalibela wanted the excavation of these stone churches so that the Muslims could not destroy them.
Locul a devenit încă din secolul XII loc de pelerinaj pentru copții creștini.
Proiectul lui Lalibela a avut două consecințe neașteptate. Mai întâi, situl – de o frumusețe aproape ireală – a devenit imediat loc de pelerinaj pentru creștinii din regiune. Apoi regele însuși a decis să se dedice unei vieți religioase;după 20 de ani pe tron, a abdicat și a trăit tot restul vieții ca pustnic, izolat într-o peșteră. De atunci, el este considerat de către etiopieni un sfânt și venerat ca atare.
Bisericile au fost folosite în continuu încă din secolul al XII-lea (majoritatea ca biserici, două dintre ele posibil ca reședințe regale). Primii europeni care le-au descoperit au fost portughezii, în anii 1520. Unul dintre exploratorii ajunși atunci în zonă scria în jurnal că situl este atât de impresionant, încât se așteaptă ca cei care-i vor citi notele să creadă că minte când descrie frumusețea bisericilor săpate în piatră.
Situl de la Lalibela a fost inclus în patrmoniul mondial UNESCO în 1978.
source. historia.ro
The 11 medieval churches dug in stone are in a mountainous area in the heart of Ethiopia in Lalibela. The medieval site is 645km away from the capital Addis Ababa. Their construction is attributed by specialists - King Lalibela, who in the twelfth century proposed to build a new Jerusalem, after the Holy City, conquered by Muslims, was closed to Christians. By building this religious ensemble, the King sought to obtain the support of the mighty Ethiopian Orthodox Church in order to defeat its rivals.
The 11 churches are built to the north and to the east by an artificial canal that represents the Jordan. These are: Biet Medhani (the Savior's House of the World), the largest of all, it is a copy of St. Mary's Cathedral in Aksum and is the largest monolithic church on earth, Biet Mariam (House of Holy Mary), Biet Maskal Holy Cross), Biet Denagel (The House of the Virgins Biet Gologotha Mikael (House of Golgotha and St. Michael) and east of the canal: Biet Amanuel (House of Saint Emanuel) Biet Mercoreos (House of Mercurius) Biet Abba Libanos (Abbey of Lebanon) Biet Gabriel Rafael The House of Saints Gabriel and Rafael), Biet Lehem (House of the Holy Bread) and, apart from the others, Biet Ghirghis (St. George's House, cross-shaped).
The churches were dug in stone. Each church was created by digging a huge ditch with four sides, then digging up to a few meters deep. Thus, immense stone monoliths have been formed in which doors, windows, columns, roofs, etc. have been carved. The ensemble also has an extensive system of sewers, trenches and passages for ceremonies, as well as catacombs. The Ethiopian site is all the more impressive as we think that its construction only used manual work with hammers and hammers.
It is said that Lalibela wanted the excavation of these stone churches so that the Muslims could not destroy them.
Locul a devenit încă din secolul XII loc de pelerinaj pentru copții creștini.
Proiectul lui Lalibela a avut două consecințe neașteptate. Mai întâi, situl – de o frumusețe aproape ireală – a devenit imediat loc de pelerinaj pentru creștinii din regiune. Apoi regele însuși a decis să se dedice unei vieți religioase;după 20 de ani pe tron, a abdicat și a trăit tot restul vieții ca pustnic, izolat într-o peșteră. De atunci, el este considerat de către etiopieni un sfânt și venerat ca atare.
Bisericile au fost folosite în continuu încă din secolul al XII-lea (majoritatea ca biserici, două dintre ele posibil ca reședințe regale). Primii europeni care le-au descoperit au fost portughezii, în anii 1520. Unul dintre exploratorii ajunși atunci în zonă scria în jurnal că situl este atât de impresionant, încât se așteaptă ca cei care-i vor citi notele să creadă că minte când descrie frumusețea bisericilor săpate în piatră.
Situl de la Lalibela a fost inclus în patrmoniul mondial UNESCO în 1978.
source. historia.ro
soncee › Beautiful artikle
DAIANAGABAR › Good post
AdeelKazim › very informative article
Deliana › Interesting!
MC › Great place
Deepizzaguy › This is an amazing article.
annie07 › very interesting
