Early 12th Century Frescoes in Bet Maryam, St. Mary's Church, Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa *** Local Caption *** Lalibela and its rock-hewn churches rank among the greatest religio-historical sites not only in Africa but in the Christian World

Chapel of Bet Danaghel built in memory of nuns martyred on orders of the Roman Emperior Julian, in the courtyard of Bet Maryam (St. Mary's), Lalibela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ethiopia, Africa

Priest with cross, Bet Meskel, an excavated chapel in the northern wall of the courtyard of Bet Maryam, Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrim reads Holy Bible in Bet Maryam (St. Mary's) courtyard, Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa

Pilgrim sits in early morning sun reading his Holy Bible at entrance doors to Bet Maryam church (St. Mary's), believed to be the oldest rock hewn church in Lalibela, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa

Nuns sorting wheat in Bet Maryam church courtyard, Lalibela, Wollo, Ethiopia, Africa

Nun sorting wheat in Bet Maryam church courtyard, Lalibela, Wollo, Ethiopia, Africa

Celebration in Bet Maryam church courtyard, Lalibela, Wollo, Ethiopia, Africa

Priest reading a Bible in Bet Maryam church courtyard, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lalibela, Wollo, Ethiopia, Africa

A young girl sitting against the walls of Bet Medhane Alem (Church of the World Savior) in Lalibela, Ethiopia

A man rests on a bench inside the rock hewn monolithic church of Bet Maryam (Church of St. Mary) in Lalibela, Ethiopia

Portrait of an Ethiopian woman outside of the rock hewn monolithic church of Bet Maryam (Church of St. Mary) in Lalibela, Ethiopia

A padlock on a wooden door, Bet Maryam (Church of St. Mary) in Lalibela, Ethiopia

Rock hewn monolithic church of Bet Maryam (Church of St. Mary) in Lalibela, Ethiopia

Meskel Cerimony in Lalibela (Meskal, Meskal, Maskal, Mescel, Mesquel), which is taking place every September. For Meskel many pilgrims are coming to Lalibela, to celebrate it at one of the holy palces in Ethiopia, Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Lalibela