The rock churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia

St. George’s Church blends into the surrounding mountainsides of Lalibela. To get to the town, you can either take a two-day bus from Addis, (stopping over in Dessie for the night -- under $20), or you can fly direct from Addis and most other big towns for about $150. To tour the churches, either on your own or with a guide, you must pay a one-time entrance fee of $20.

Here, women can be seen cleaning St. George's Church. The government has spent millions of dollars to maintain and protect the churches from the elements.

A priest holds a Lalibela cross. The cross is said to have been given by angels to King Lalibela.

Worshipers attend Mass inside St. Mary’s Church. Visitors are allowed to attend certain Masses, although in some of the churches you need to be invited by a member of that specific church.

A worshiper takes a moment to pray. The vast majority of the population of Lalibela is Ethiopian Orthodox Christian.

A priest gives the Sunday liturgy to about five hundred worshipers. The theme of the day in part: that despite the intrusion some feel from tourists, to respect all of the different nationalities of people that come to visit Lalibela, to treat them with kindness, and welcome them.

Worshipers leave St. Mary’s Church after Sunday Mass and collect their shoes on the way out.

A priest stands outside of St. Mary’s Church after Sunday Mass.

When not in the churches, you can easily get lost within the maze of carved rock paths and corridors that link all of the sites. The people in Lalibela are so kind and always willing to show you the way or answer questions.

If you want to hike or ride a mule up the nearby mountains, or venture some distance outside of Lalibela, there are many other rock churches and monasteries to explore. Here, a monk poses for a picture in his mountaintop Ethiopian Orthodox monastery.

A monk makes her way from her monk hole to the market. Most of the monks spend almost the whole day praying inside, only leaving to get food.

A monk reads the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible, using a birr (Ethiopian monetary note) as a bookmark. Most of the priests and monks are kind enough to let you take their photograph, usually for a small donation.

While wandering the churches I was asked by a small boy, Chalalhew Megus, to come to his house for a coffee. I followed him to his small home, where I met his mother (pictured), grandmothers, and two sisters. Although we could not communicate more than a few words, for the next hour I enjoyed some of the best freshly ground coffee I have ever tasted.

After having coffee and popcorn, Chalalhew Megus wanted me to take a photograph of him holding a portrait of his father, who was killed in the Ethiopian-Eritrean war. To the right is his father’s mother. It was a very powerful moment and one I’ll never forget.

Worshipers return from morning Mass.

A shepherd boy poses for a photograph in the center of town.