imported>Kofi at 15:04, 28 June 2014

2014-06-28T15:04:43Z

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{{Infobox Historic Site
| name = Bete Giyorgis Stone Temple
| image = Bet_Giyorgis_church_Lalibela_01.jpg
| caption = Side view of Bete Giyorgis Temple in Ethiopia
| location = [[Lalibela]], [[Wollo Province]], [[Ethiopia]]
| built = ~13th Century
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| governing_body = [[Ethiopia]]
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The '''Bete Giyorgis Temple''' (St. George Temple) is a church in [[Lalibela]], [[Ethiopia]]. Built in the early thirteenth century, it is the most well known and last built of the eleven churches in the Lalibela area, and has been referred to as the "[[Eighth Wonder of the World]]".<ref name="tzuchi">{{cite web | publisher=Tzu Chi Foundation | title=Lalibela:The Eighth Wonder of the World | url=http://taipei.tzuchi.org.tw/tzquart/2000fa/qf3.htm | accessdate=10 November 2006 }}</ref> The dimensions of the complex are 25 meters by 25 meters by 30 meters,<ref name="sacred">{{cite web | publisher=Sacred Destinations | title=Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela | url=http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ethiopia/lalibela.htm | accessdate=10 November 2006 }}</ref> and there is a small baptismal pool outside the church, which stands in an artificial trench. Still actively used for worship, the Churches are each carved from a single piece of rock – either down into the ground, or into a hillside.

According to Ethiopian history, ''Bete Giyorgis'' was built after King [[Gebre Mesqel Lalibela]] of the [[Zagwe dynasty]] had a vision in which he was instructed to construct the church; [[Saint George]]<ref name="GIS">{{cite web | publisher=GIS Development | title=The recording of Bet Giorgis | url=http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/archaeology/general/archg0012pf.htm | accessdate=10 November 2006 }}</ref><ref name="Diplomatist">{{cite web | publisher=L.B. Associates (Pvt) Limited | title=Ethiopia | url=http://www.diplomatist.com/page/ethiopia.htm | accessdate=10 November 2006 }}</ref> and [[God]]<ref name="tzuchi" /> have both been referred to as the one who gave him the instructions.

As of 2006, Lalibela is still a pilgrimage site for members of the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]]; the church itself is part of the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] "Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela".<ref name="UNESCO">{{cite web | publisher=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization | title=Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela | url=http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=18 | accessdate=10 November 2006 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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Bete Giyorgis Stone Temple - Revision history

imported>Kofi at 15:04, 28 June 2014