Biete Golgotha — the House of Golgotha — takes its name from the hill outside Jerusalem where Christ was crucified, making it the most overtly Jerusalem-referencing of the Lalibela churches. It is paired with the smaller Biete Mikael next door and the two share a common entrance; together they are sometimes counted as a single unit in the standard eleven. Biete Golgotha is the more important of the two, containing a series of carved reliefs of the apostles and saints along the nave walls — some of the finest sculptural work in the entire complex.
The church is notable for two restrictions that apply here more strictly than elsewhere: women are not admitted, and photography is strictly forbidden inside. The reason given for the prohibition on women is that it is the burial place of the king, a masculine royal sanctuary. Whatever the theological logic, the rule is enforced. Non-Orthodox male visitors who enter respectfully will be shown the carved reliefs and, if fortunate, given a brief view of the sanctuary. The quality of the stonework here — particularly the life-sized carved figures set into the walls — rewards the effort of a visit.