Experience Ethiopian Easter (Fasika) in Lalibela May 2024

Lalibela

Fasika in Lalibela

Experience the magic of Ethiopian Easter in Lalibela.

This trip is ideally combined with a community trek especially at the end when there is much joy after Easter in the countryside

Fri 3 May – Sekelet (Ethiopian Good Friday) morning arrive in Lalibela by flight from Addis, or from your trek transferring from one of the nearby community guesthouses.  We will get you quickly checked into one of the hotels near to the churches.

The Good Friday Procession

This is the end of Holy week, the week leading to Easter. On Thursday evening many will have taken their ‘last supper’ and drink before they break their fast on Easter Sunday. This sombre procession goes around the churches of Lalibela. Dressed in white cotton shawls the church followers come to church on Friday to pray and listen to the chanting of priests and deacons with the beat of the big kebero drums, and the chinking of the sistra. During the day there is a solemn procession to mark Jesus’ walk to his crucification.

Photo by Anthony Pappone Photography (www.flickr.com/photos/ronnyreportage)

Later you can start your visit of these famous Rockhewn churches of Lalibela (a UNESCO World Heritage site) visiting the first cluster of churches including Medhan Alem, Mariam and Mikael in the afternoon, and sense the spirituality around you.

That evening we suggest you take dinner at your hotel and have an early night.

Sat 4 May – After an early breakfast off to see the remaining churches. You will start with Gabriel and Rufael, then Merkorios (don’t miss the beautiful painting on canvas here), Emanuel and finally Abba Libanos. From here you will walk up onto the rock above the Mount of Olives – Debre Tabor – you will get a nice view back across the churches. Last of all is Giyorgis – Lalibela’s iconic church in the shape of a cross. You will see some of the old style houses from Lalibela here. – then head for the market. The Saturday Market in Lalibela is a special one with so much produce coming in from the countryside around.

Lalibela Market – Enjara baskets

After lunch leave early (1:30pm) head out to see two unusual monastery churches north of Lalibela. Its a 90 min drive to Yemrehana Kristos and then a 15 minute walk. On the way back see my personal favourite church – Bilbala Cherkos -which is a lot older than the other churches, with very little written about it. Head back into Lalibela at the end of the day.

After dinner,  you can return to the churches to feel the atmosphere as even more worshippers in their white cotton shawls (gabis), cluster on the volcanic rock around these 800 year old churches to see in the end of their 55 day long fast. The central place for the ceremony of Tinsaye (Easter) is Bete Mariam. Worshipers light candles (wax tapers) and listen to the religious music with a large number of priests and deacons following the ritualised chants with the drums and sistra. At around 4am the church ceremonies are complete and the worshipers return home to break their fast and celebrate with their families and friends.

Sun 5 May  Fasika / Tinsaye:-  After being late in bed – get up for a later breakfast. If you are returning today head to the airport at about 9:45 to checkin for the 11:10 flight to Addis. If staying you can join your guide at his/her home for a traditional Easter lunch of doro wot (spicy chicken stew) with enjara and head out on a community trek in the afternoon.