Bete Mikael and Gologotha church Lalibela

Beta Qedus Mikael, the Church of St Michael, and Golgotha, Gologotha There are two churches belong together served with one Entrance.  This church also includes the rarely seen Silase Chapel. St. Mikael’s church (also called Debra Sina means Mount Sinai). They are carved as Semi monolithic as they are not completely isolated from the main rock.

At, the western side it can be accessed through the Tomb of Adam. Seeing the elegant looking of the Tomb of Adam, one could easily guess they used it as the ancient main entrance to access the churches. They can also access it through a tunnel at the southern end of the Bet Maryam courtyard.   

Bete Gologotha is named after the area where Jesus was buried.  It is believed to be the most important and holiest shrine of all the churches in Lalibela. St. Lalibela belongings including his prayer stick of Wood, iron, and horn, and elaborate metal cross kept there. At the corner of the northeast, there is a relief carving of angels representing the Tomb of Christ. Beneath down there is a movable stone covering the Tomb of King and Saint Lalibela.  

Bete Mikael’s church measures 9.5 m by 8.5 m. Three are 8 columns in two rows divide the church into three parts. The columns make a cross shape intersections and repeated by pilasters on the walls.  An arch connects the two rows of pillars. The east-central part of the church serves as the holy of holy where the Altar is kept. It has beautiful exterior window carvings on two levels on the walls and three doorways as usual in the western half. The northern side leads into the Golgotha church.

Golgotha church (10.5 by 6 m.) The church of St Michale serves as a passage to reach Golgotha.  A cruciform in section three columns runs east-west in the center. And two aisles are formed by a fourth pilaster  in the western side of the wall,

There is a rectangular box said to be a ‘tribune’ of King Lalibela. From where he attends ceremonies regularly. The window is decorated with Axsumite-style square monkey-heads on the exterior part of the wall.