Holy Trinity Cathedral, Addis Ababa
ቅድስት ሥላሴ ካቴድራል
Addis Ababa's most important Orthodox cathedral, where Emperor Haile Selassie and his empress rest, with fine stained glass and murals.
Holy Trinity Cathedral (Kidist Selassie) was built in 1942 to commemorate Ethiopia's liberation from Italian occupation. It is the second most important church of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in the capital. The building blends European-style domes and spires with traditional Ethiopian elements. Inside are large murals depicting biblical stories and Ethiopian history, stained-glass windows, and two carved thrones prepared for the emperor and empress. After the 1974 revolution, the last emperor, Haile Selassie I, and his empress were deposed. Their remains were reinterred here in 2000 in granite sarcophagi. The churchyard also holds patriots from the anti-Italian resistance, as well as Sylvia Pankhurst, the British suffragette and anti-fascist activist. Visitors must buy a ticket and may join a guided tour by church staff (check on site). Shoes must be removed before entering, and women are advised to cover their heads. Early in the morning, worshippers wearing white netela shawls often pray outside the walls. The cathedral is about 1 km from the National Museum and can be reached on foot.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:00 (visits restricted during prayer times)
Nearby sights
- Unity Park
- National Museum of Ethiopia
- Addis Ababa Science Museum
- Piassa
- Yekatit 12 Monument
- Adwa Victory Memorial Museum
- Tomoca Coffee (Piassa)
- St. George's Cathedral