Interpretive Resource

Video: 13th-Century St. George Church, Lalibela, Ethiopia

The town of Lalibela, in the highlands of northern Ethiopia, is a pilgrimage site for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. During the 12th and 13th centuries, 11 churches were hewn from Lalibela’s massive volcanic rock escarpments, creating a spectacular ceremonial center for the reigning Zagwe dynasty.

This video features Christmas celebrations at Lalibela in 1998. On Christmas Eve—January 6 in the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar—clergy and the devout gather for a service that lasts well into the night. Priests and deacons, dressed in richly embellished robes and hats, lead those present in hymns, chanting, and solemn dancing. On Christmas day, pilgrims follow the winding stairs and narrow passages that surround the rock-cut churches, including the distinctive cross-shaped Church of St. George. Clerics read from sacred texts or display processional crosses.

Christianity dates to the 4th century in Ethiopia, while the practice of Islam can be traced to the 7th century. The contrasts and tensions between these two major faiths have shaped the cultural and political history of the region, and today they continue to dominate the modern nation of Ethiopia. The video also captures scenes from daily life, including a woman making a basket, people in a local market, a fisherman in a papyrus boat, and travelers on a roadway.