Dating back to the 15th or even as early as the 13th century by some accounts, the Adadi Mariam Church is not as old as some of the rock hewn churches of the northern highlands but is nonetheless an impressive and revered place of worship which attests to the early adoption of Christianity in the surrounding Guraghe area.

The church was destroyed by Ahmed Gragn in the early 16th century and was only discovered and rehabilitated in the reign of Emperor Menelik. It has been in active use ever since.