Monolithic church
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Image:Bet Giyorgis church Lalibela 01.jpg A monolithic church is a church made from a single block of stone. They are usually hewn into the ground or into the side of a hill or mountain and can be of comparable architectural complexity to constructed buildings.
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Lalibela
The term primarily refers to the complex of eleven churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia believed to have been created in the 12th century, the most famous of which is the cross-shaped Church of St. George. Spurious tales that the Lalibela churches were constructed by the Knights Templar in the 13th century were started by European explorers who did not believe that the Ethiopian civilization could have created structures of such complexity and beauty.
Four other churches in northern Ethiopia were hewn from the rock during the Zagwe dynasty.
Other churches
However, there are a number of monolithic churches elsewhere in the world, such as:
Bulgaria
- the Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo near Ruse
France
- St. Jean Church in Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, dating from the 12th century
- Saint-Roman abbey in Beaucaire, Gard
- Church in Saint-Émilion
Germany
- the small Church of the Rock (Felsenkirche) in Idar-Oberstein
See also
External links
- Photos of Aubeterre
- Article about Saint-Roman abbey
- Saint-Roman abbey website (in French and a part in english)
- Website about monolithic monuments (in French)