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BETA MEDHANE ALEM

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Lalibela, Ethiopia
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2024
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2024

The world's largest monolithic church, 33.5 m long, 23.5 m wide and 11 m high, was built in the late century.

This monolithic church, considered the largest in the world, is literally called "the home of the Saviour of the world". It is the most accessible and largest of the religious complex, and its dimensions are impressive: 33.5 m long, 23.5 m wide and 11 m high. It is set in a pit over 40 m long, which gives an idea of the colossal amount of work that went into its construction, begun in the late 12th century and completed in the 13th. It is estimated that 15,000m3 of rock were removed from the courtyard and 10,000m3 from the interior. From the point at the top of the excavation, you can imagine how the trenches were dug in this mixture of volcanic and sedimentary stone, uncovering a single colossal block, while respecting the gradient essential for water run-off. The sanctuary finally emerged from the gradually roughened mineral mastodon. A portico of thirty-four pillars encircles the edifice, lightening the structure; from the openings, doors and windows, the stonemasons infiltrate to clear the naves, pillars and vaults. No mistakes were allowed, and the monolithic uniqueness of the whole, only disturbed by the reconstruction of certain pillars in stone blocks by an Italian "restoration" campaign, proves the accuracy of the calculations of the architects of the time.

The interior is accessed through three doors opening to the west, north and south, in accordance with Christian ritual. The interior, which appears much smaller due to the thickness of the walls (2 m), reveals a basilica plan with five naves, the middle of which, higher than the others, is topped by a barrel vault. The maqdas, or holy of holies, is raised on a three-step foundation; to its left, three open cavities symbolize the tombs of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The whole is supported by 24 pillars, without bases or capitals, which, together with the thirty-four other pillars of the outer peristyle, symbolize the 72 apostles. The building is devoid of all ornament, and only the windows, whose diverse motifs are a constant feature of Lalibela churches, add a decorative touch to the whole. The sculpted double-sloped roof has unfortunately suffered from erosion damage and is now covered by a protective roof. According to some experts, Medhane Alem could be a copy of the original church of Sainte-Marie de Sion in Aksum, built in the 6th century and destroyed when the city was invaded.

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