Debre Birhan Selassie Church

Orthodox church · Semen Gondar ·

Debre Birhan Selassie Church

Orthodox church · Semen Gondar ·

Ancient Ethiopian church featuring colorful religious art

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JF7J+245, Gondar, Ethiopia Get directions

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Ethiopia's Bale Mountains National Park

"Wen returned from his northern tour with a watercolor of the 17th-century Debre Birhan Selassie church in Gonder and told me the country was 'beautiful, rugged, very spiritual,' which captured for me why that historic church — with its old-world presence rendered in his painting — felt emblematic of Ethiopia's enduring cultural and spiritual life." - Alexandra Fuller Alexandra Fuller Alexandra Fuller is a British author and journalist who grew up in Zimbabwe, Africa. She’s the author of several books, including “Travel Light, Move Fast,” and has contributed to publications like The New York Times, Travel + Leisure, and National Geographic. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/nature-travel/ethiopias-landscape-and-wildlife

Debre Birhan Selassie Church

Nadine A

Google

A must visit in Gonder. The paintings inside the church are amazing and better have a guide explaining them. The building is charming. Entrance fees is around $3 for foreigners.

Zeliha G.

Google

Looks boring on the outside but extraordinary on the inside. Ask a priest to open the gate for you and you can sit from different angles and enjoy the beautiful graphics on the walls and ceiling of the church. Gonder is definitely safe to visit in 2024 (we visited in march) if you just fly to here and back because roads for busses are blocked due to the armed conflict.

CK C.

Google

Extraordinary church dating back to 17th century but was re-developed in 19th century when original was destroyed. The exterior is beautiful and rustic and the interior is filled with stunning colourful murals. Marvelous church with lots of local history, culture and flavour. Definitely worth a visit to see something that is unique

Mal333

Google

This is a stunning traditional church in Gondar. Externally the church has beautiful stone walls and wooden arched doors. But it is the internal areas that are particularly interesting, with extensive sacred Ethiopian art. This is where you will find the original paintings of angels on the ceiling. You are also likely to see an Ethiopian Orthodox Church priest clothed in white with a hand cross.

Master M.

Google

An ancient and beautiful church with full of wall and roof painting known for its second Gondarian style. The biblical scenes are vividly remarkable and the interior paintings cover the walls and ceilings in richly applied red, blue and golden hues. Subjects include the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, seated above Christ on the Cross. There are a lot of stories attached with these paintings. It is an Stone building

V C

Google

Lovely church. Be respectful of their customs: shoes off, separate entrances for men and women, no chewing, no flash photography. We went during a service but were allowed to look around the church. Detailed paintings cover all of the walls and ceilings.

tadlo T.

Google

Was interesting, unforgettable movement, amazing place and fell to good, peace. Debire Birhan Selassie Church, meaning 'Trinity and Mountain of Light' is the most famous place of worship in Gondar. On approach, twelve rounded stone towers - representing the 12 apostles - stand stoically guarding the church, as they have done for centuries. The 13th tower, the tallest of the bunch, represents the Lion of Judah. Eagle-eyed visitors can see an imprint of the Lion on the top half of the tower. Originally built in the 17th century by Emperor Eyasu II, the present structure was redeveloped during the 1880s following a raid by marauding Sudanese Dervishes and lightning strike that reduced the original building to rubble.

Mekdim A.

Google

Amazing experience. We went there on the 7th of the (Silassie celebration day). There were preaching services and songs and hymns troughout the morning. It was lovely. Entrance is 50 birr

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28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

Ethiopia's Bale Mountains National Park

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/nature-travel/ethiopias-landscape-and-wildlife

Debre Birhan Selassie Church

Nadine A

Google

A must visit in Gonder. The paintings inside the church are amazing and better have a guide explaining them. The building is charming. Entrance fees is around $3 for foreigners.

Zeliha G.

Google

CK C.

Google

Mal333

Google

Master M.

Google

V C

Google

tadlo T.

Google

Mekdim A.

Google

Amazing experience. We went there on the 7th of the (Silassie celebration day). There were preaching services and songs and hymns troughout the morning. It was lovely. Entrance is 50 birr

Debre Birhan Selassie Church

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Ethiopia's Bale Mountains National Park

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