Debre Berhan Selassie Church
ደብረ ብርሃን ሥላሴ
A church whose ceiling is covered with 80 winged angel faces, the most famous masterpiece of Ethiopian religious art.
The church was built by Iyasu I at the end of the 17th century and named 'Light of the Trinity.' It is one of the few churches in Gondar to survive the Mahdist forces' burning in the 1880s. The rectangular stone hall is surrounded by a stone wall with 12 towers. Inside, the walls are painted with Bible stories, saints and figures from Ethiopian history, and the rows of angel faces on the ceiling have become a cultural symbol of Ethiopia. Admission is about 200 birr; visitors must remove their shoes, and women should wear a headscarf. The church is about 2 km from the Royal Enclosure. The situation in Amhara is volatile, so check China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the latest safety advisories before travelling.
Opening hours
Approx. 08:00–12:30, 13:30–17:30
Nearby sights
- Gondar Piazza
- Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar
- Wolleka Falasha Village
- Fasilides' Bath
- Kuskuam Palace
- Kossoye Viewpoint