This rock-hewn church is a 600-year-old sanctuary in the building tradition of the northern part of Ethiopia and marks the advent of Christianity in the southern part of Adadi Mariam, badly damaged by time, and has been strengthened and restored with the aid of Switzerland.

Adadi Mariam Rock Church is located 66 km southwest of Addis Ababa. It is 12 km west of the main Addis Ababa – Butajira road. Adadi Mariam is set at an altitude of 1900 meters (or 6,235 feet) above sea level.

Adadi Mariam is an active church belonging to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church. This church was carved out of a solid piece of rock in the 12th or 13th Century AD. Local tradition holds that its establishment is related to King Lalibela’s visit to the nearby Ziquala Abo Monastery in 1106 AD. King Lalibela is believed to be the founder of Adadi Mariam Rock Church.