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Ethiopian pilgrimage, the Rock Churches of Lalibela.

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Ethiopia is in northeast Africa.

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A high plateau was formed by molten volcanic rock.

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Isolated within the cliffs is a unique Christian holy site, Lalibela.

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This cross-shaped church is the house of St. George.

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The surrounding rock was cut away to leave a 12 meter by 12 meter cross.

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It is formed out of a single rock without a single seam.

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The interior was also hollowed out from rock.

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Lalibela has 11 stone churches which are connected by tunnels.

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They were built by a ruler named King Lalibela in the 12th century.

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The Christian monarch had a dream. God spoke to him.

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Build churches of rock, this will be a new Jerusalem.

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For this new Jerusalem he reconstructed biblical settings.

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The stable where Christ was born.

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The river of Jordan.

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A cross symbolizes Christ's baptism.

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And the small hill overlooking the holy site was selected to resemble the Mount of Olives.

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Ethiopian Christianity dates back to the 4th century.

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Even today it remains close to its Jewish roots.

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Christmas in the Ethiopian calendar is on the 7th of January.

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As the festival nears, Lalibela's population swells with 60,000 pilgrims.

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Among them are monks who give open air sermons.

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The sacred soil of Lalibela is said to cure disease.

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Pilgrims take it home for those who couldn't come.

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As the festival continues into the night, the climax approaches.

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At midnight on the 7th of January, they greet the day of Christ's birth

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amid a living recreation of biblical settings and stories.

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Here at Lalibela, faith is built on rock.

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www.lalibela.org