Lalibela, Ethiopia — Faith Carved Downward

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Date: 02/01/2026

Lalibela lies in the highlands of northern Ethiopia, far from oceans and modern hurry, known for something few places dare to attempt—churches carved downward into solid rock.
Here, faith did not rise upward toward the sky.
It went into the earth.

Eleven ancient churches sit below ground level, connected by narrow passages and shadowed courtyards. They were not assembled stone by stone, but cut patiently from a single mass of rock, centuries ago.
A barefoot priest moves slowly through one passage, holding a wooden cross polished by generations of hands.
This is not a museum moment. It is daily life.
Ethiopians are proud of Lalibela not because it impresses outsiders, but because it continues—quietly, stubbornly—unchanged by time.
Lalibela teaches something rare:
That belief, when sincere, does not need height.
It needs depth.

Rajat Chandra Sarmah
Guwahati, Assam, India
Instagram @rajatchandrasarmah5
YouTube @conversewithasmile