Church of Debra Berhan Selassie, Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Gondar, Ethiopia
The rectangular stone building features twelve rounded towers connected by exterior walls, with the highest tower symbolizing the Lion of Judah.
The church survived the 1888 Mahdist invasion of Gondar when all other religious structures in the city were destroyed by Sudanese forces.
The interior walls contain extensive Ethiopian Christian paintings depicting biblical scenes, while the ceiling displays 135 cherub faces in medieval style.
Visitors can explore the church daily from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 6:00 PM, with entry tickets costing 50 Birr for adults.
The church interior presents a complete visual narrative of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity through detailed frescoes covering every wall surface.
Location: Gondar
GPS coordinates: 12.61250,37.48028
Latest update: June 17, 2025 18:51
Ethiopia offers photographers a range of subjects from medieval architecture to geologically active zones. In the north, Lalibela features eleven churches carved from solid tuff rock during the 12th and 13th centuries, while Axum holds obelisks from the Aksumite Empire that flourished from the 1st to 10th centuries. The Gheralta region of Tigray contains dozens of churches built into cliff faces, accessible via steep trails.The landscape extends from the peaks of the Simien Mountains, rising above 15,000 feet (4,500 meters), to the Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth. Bale Mountains National Park supports Ethiopian wolves in afroalpine moorlands, while Awash National Park features acacia woodlands and hot springs. The walled city of Harar Jugol, with its 368 lanes and 82 mosques dating from the 16th century, displays Islamic architecture. The monasteries on Lake Tana islands hold manuscripts from the 14th to 18th centuries, and in Gondar, Fasil Ghebbi documents Ethiopian rule through its 17th and 18th century palaces and churches.
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