Rock steady

Rock steady

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Orthodox Christians sit outside one of the famous monolithic churches of Lalibela during Good Friday celebrations.

The churches were hewn from single blocks of solid rock high up in the Ethiopian mountains, and their construction is attributed to the 12th-13th Century King Lalibela. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, they are a centre of worship during the Orthodox Easter weekend.

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A man looks down towards Biete Medhani Alem (House of the Saviour of the World), which is believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, according to UNESCO.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

A man looks down towards Biete Medhani Alem (House of the Saviour of the World), which is believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, according to UNESCO.

People pray around Biete Ghiorgis (House of St. George), which like the other churches was hewn from solid rock.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

People pray around Biete Ghiorgis (House of St. George), which like the other churches was hewn from solid rock.

An Orthodox Christian monk who collects donations for the church leans against a rock.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

An Orthodox Christian monk who collects donations for the church leans against a rock.

Worshippers pray outside one of the 11 churches at the site.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

Worshippers pray outside one of the 11 churches at the site.

An Orthodox Christian man prays during Good Friday celebrations.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

An Orthodox Christian man prays during Good Friday celebrations.

A girl peers out as she sits in an alcove in the rock.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

A girl peers out as she sits in an alcove in the rock.

A man eats in front of the Yemrehana Krestos church as he breaks fast ahead of Ethiopian Orthodox Easter celebrations.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

A man eats in front of the Yemrehana Krestos church as he breaks fast ahead of Ethiopian Orthodox Easter celebrations.

A young woman walks outside one of the monolithic churches.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

A young woman walks outside one of the monolithic churches.

Worshippers pray inside one of the churches during the celebrations.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

Worshippers pray inside one of the churches during the celebrations.

A man walks between the churches.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

A man walks between the churches.

An Orthodox Christian prays.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

An Orthodox Christian prays.

Orthodox Christian men read outside.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

Orthodox Christian men read outside.

A young Orthodox Christian woman stands outside during the Good Friday celebrations.
. LALIBELA, Ethiopia. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

A young Orthodox Christian woman stands outside during the Good Friday celebrations.