Narga Selassie, Orthodox Tewahedo church on Dek Island, Lake Tana, Ethiopia.
Narga Selassie is a round church building located on the western shore of Dek Island in Lake Tana with stone walls forming its outer structure. A columned walkway encircles the main building, creating a covered passage around the entire church.
Empress Mentewab commissioned the construction of this church in the late 1700s using timber from a large fig tree found on the island. This foundation established one of the significant religious sites around Lake Tana.
The church serves as a center for Ethiopian Orthodox worship and draws both pilgrims and visitors who witness daily religious practices. The rituals and celebrations observed here reflect the spiritual life that has continued for centuries in this lakeside setting.
You can reach the church by ferry from Bahir Dar or Gorgora to Dek Island, with regular service connecting the mainland ports. Dress respectfully when visiting as it remains an active place of worship where local customs should be observed.
A carved relief at the main entrance shows Scottish explorer James Bruce, documenting his travels through Ethiopia during the era when this church was being built. This depiction is unusual and serves as a record of the foreign connections that existed during that historical period.
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