Wukro Medhane Alem: A Medieval Rock-hewn Church in Historic Gondar, Ethiopia

This study explores the historical and architectural heritage of Wukro Medhane Alem, a least-known monolithic rock-hewn church in South Gondar. Primary secondary sources were collected through fieldwork, interviews, literature review. The shows that it is one medieval churches traditionally attributed to King Lalibela (r. 1181-1221). hypogeum has rectangular plan being deeply excavated out bedrock. There built-up feature added over roof's edge church. It imitates Gondarine tradition, implying transition from earlier tradition building orientation period (1636-1769). Its reflects an Aksumite tradition. Internally, basilica partitioned into kine mahilet (chanting), kiddist (holy) mekides or kiddiste kiddusan (sanctuary) rooms arranged pillars, which are refined with arches, capitals, entablatures create ceiling roof also decorated engraved cruciform, geometrical, quadrifoliate, crown-like protruding features. six sub-sanctuaries doubled circular domed roofs altars cut main rock. hypogeum, thus, such potential values be promoted as alternative tourist site historic Gondar, mainly known tourists for its built palaces.