New Rock-Hewn Churches of Ethiopia

The simultaneous resurgence of newly carved churches across Christian Ethiopia, in apparent isolation and linguistically differentiated regions, support that the craft may indeed represent intermittent practice rather than total revival. In either case, important centres or concentrated areas of new churches have emerged and include Hawzien in Tegray and Lalibela, Selah Dingay and Dabre Berhan in Amhara.

It is with good reason that the highland town of Lalibela is the most visited destination in Ethiopia, attracting Ethiopian pilgrims and foreign visitors alike. The famed churches at Lalibela are truly remarkable and few rock churches compete with their craftsmanship and sophistication. Despite the mountainous setting, the town itself, which has grown exponentially in the past fifty years, is largely disappointing. However, several important built and rock-hewn churches are found in the surrounding area, perhaps none more so than the 12th century church of Yemrehanna Krestos. Situated within an enormous natural cave, Yemrehanna Krestos is one of the few surviving examples of early built Ethiopian churches. It may well be contemporary with the churches at Lalibela (at least in their present form) with which there are certain similarities, the most obvious being the carved facade of Beta Emmanuel at Lalibela, which seems to imitate the alternating layers of timber and stone evident at Yemrehanna Krestos.

The inspiration of new rock churches, as suggested by their function, is largely due to religious motive. The churches at Lalibela have played a crucial role in the enduring Ethiopian Christian tradition and the phenomenon of newly carved rock churches. Craftsmen in the Lalibela area (and Amhara) tend to be solely driven by religious vocation, often choosing to distance themselves from society and to carve single handedly. Typically, as work progresses, support from the community grows and contributions are made in the form of provisions. An apparent influence from the interconnected courtyard churches of Lalibela is the tendency for craftsmen to carve several adjoined churches to form a complex as at the Čӓčӓho Complex and several sites around Dabre Berhan. A more direct influence is found at the Ambager Complex, which takes as its precedent the churches of Lalibela. The Ambager Complex presently consists of five subterranean churches connected by open courtyards, short passageways and trenches, but will eventually be expanded to include eleven churches. While the number of churches and their monolithic nature (top-to-bottom excavation) are clearly inspired by the churches at Lalibela, the variety and unusual arrangement of spaces reflect a willingness for experimentation and the church ceilings and courtyard walls are richly decorated in hieroglyph-like carved relief. It should be added that most new churches in the Laibela area (and Amhara) tend to lack the level of sophistication and attention to detail, evident in old rock-hewn churches. Exceptions are the church at Etysa, Meskabe Kedusan Medhane Alem near Selah Dingey, and the ambitious Ambager Complex near Gashena.