Holy Trinity Church, Addis Ababa

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If you ask a local guide to take you to Holy Trinity Cathedral they will probably stare at you with a blank look. Mention ‘Haile Selassie Church’ and you will be taken straight there. Originally it was a wooden church commissioned by Emperor Menelik II. It was later built from stone and finished after the Italian occupation in 1942. It was then dedicated to those who fought against the Italians and there are 2 tombs filled with the bodies of people massacred during the occupation.

Only the high clergy and members of the royal family are allowed to be buried within the grounds of the church. All Patriarchs (Popes) of the Ethiopian Church are enthroned here and all Archbishops and Bishops are consecrated here as well.

In 1992 Emperor Haile Selassie’s body was finally laid to rest here and that’s why everyone calls the church after him.

There is also an unusual monument adjacent to the grounds commemorating the 60 government officials massacred when the Derg (Communists) came to power in 1974, marking a long and bloody episode in Ethiopian history. Do not try and take a picture of this monument. There are police everywhere and they will grab your camera.

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The Church of the Holy Trinity was founded by Emperor Menelik II soon after he moved his imperial capital from the hills Mt. Entoto down to Addis Ababa. The original church, built of wood with intricate carvings, was constructed with the help of artists from India. The structure begun in 1928 was completed in 1942, following a lull in construction during the Italian occupation.

The Church known as Kiddist Selassie lies of Entoto Road in the north of the city. It was begun in 1933 under the auspices of Haile Selassie and is the largest orthodox sturcture & church in this religious nation.
The mural scenes on the wall are as much part of religion as they are documents of Ethiopian history. The Royals thrones are found inside and in 2000 the emperors remains were finally entombed at his church.

A magnificent church, the biggest orthodox church in the country, with beautiful stain glass windows, murals and a central dome. Haile Selassie built it in memory of Ethiopian patriots who fought against the Italians. He worshipped there, and was recently entombed there (2000).

The atmosphere is filled with white robed holy men chanting and reciting from books. The medieval orthodoxy is reverent and reverberates to the smell of pleasant frankin-scented incense.

The picture is of Haile Selassie's chair in the church. There is also a tomb built for his wife and himself. Recently, after we visited, his bones were placed inside.