Church of Debra Berhan Selassie, Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Gondar, Ethiopia
The Church of Debra Berhan Selassie is a rectangular stone building with twelve rounded towers connected by exterior walls. The tallest tower symbolizes the Lion of Judah, and the interior ceiling displays numerous cherub faces painted in medieval style.
The building was constructed in the late 1600s and survived a major attack on the city in 1888 when other religious sites were destroyed. Its survival during that difficult period shows how important it was to protect this place.
The interior walls display religious paintings showing biblical figures and saints central to Ethiopian Orthodox tradition. As you walk through, you notice how these artworks reflect the faith of people who worship here.
The building is open to visitors on most days, with hours that follow the local prayer schedule. It helps to wear respectful clothing and be aware that this is an active place of worship.
The ceiling features around 135 painted cherub faces, an unusual artistic choice rarely seen in this region. Visitors often miss these details at first, but looking upward reveals them and gives the space a special character.
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