Are Lalibela churches built by Angels? How were they really built?

Lalibela, an ancient town in the northern part of Ethiopia, is home for the famous rock-hewn churches that UNESCO listed as one of the world’s heritages. The inception of the town was supposed to be the “New Jerusalem”, as the real Jerusalem was captured by Muslims in the 12th century. The intention of this article is not to go in detail about Lalibela churches, but to argue a point in their construction. There is a claim that is widely out spoken that the churches were built by angels.

There are many rock-hewn churchesin Lalibela and the details of each will surely be found somewhere on the net. I once met a guy who happen to go to Lalibela with a group. It was just a tour in Ethiopia’s religious sites. When he saw the rock-hewn churches he was amazed by their magnificence. He said he was so eager to know how this kind of technology existed in the 12th centuryEthiopia. He got his pen and note book to record the briefing given by a priest. He heard the priest say that the churches were built by angels in a very short time. He couldn't hide his disappointment. He just couldn't take that. Well he was not of the Ethiopian orthodox religion.

There are numerous supernatural claims wherever you go through Ethiopian religious sites. I have heard that there is a place in Ethiopia that Jesus Christ himself stayed teaching physically, after his resurrection. Well I don’t want to open a debate here. My question remains on how Lalibela churches were built. As there is a recorded claim that Angels built it there is also another story that tells it took many years and was built by men of the time. The reputable online encyclopedia, Wikipedia” reported it as being built by Ethiopian civilization of the time.

Are Lalibela churches built by angels or men? Is there any strong evidence to believe either of these? My assumption is that it is built by men, of course, took many years to be completed. Medieval Ethiopia was a highly religious country as it still is to some degree. So if you happen to go for a tour in religious sites there you will definitely hear many supernatural claims, like the lost ark being in Axum. Don’t be fooled, there are great linking stories that will give you the feel of how it could have happened to be there.

Ethiopia is in fact one of the earliest countries to accept Christianity as a state religion in the 4th century. The religion of Islam came in the 7th century. There are lots of things to see and discover. As of Lalibela churches i wish the true story be known to all.