Though the dating of the churches is not well established, most are thought to have been built during the reign of Lalibela, namely during the 12th and 13th centuries.
Sekalipun penanggalan dari gereja-gereja ini belum ditetapkan secara pasti, sebagian besar diduga didirikan pada masa pemerintahan Lalibela, yakni di abad ke-12 dan ke-13.