Trip Planner: Africa / Ethiopia / Amhara Region / Gonder / Debre Berhan Selassie Church

Debre Berhan Selassie Church, Gonder

4.6

#2 of 21 in Things to do in Gonder

World heritage site · Church · Tourist Spot

Admired the beamed painted ceiling Debre Berhan Selassie Church in Gondar, the hearth of Ethiopia. Originally built in 1693 by Emperor Iyasu the Great, who received a bell from the Dutch governor of India, the present-day structures was rebuilt in the 1880s after Mahdists dervishes from Sudan had damaged it. Like many Eastern Orthodox churches, this one, too, has an unassuming stone-and-brick exterior with double-arched entrance door and two-tiered thatched roof but once you get it, angles shine on you with light and color. Interior walls and ceiling are fully covered by painted images of 123 winged faces with big eyes staring at you as well and biblical scenes and various saints. Try to find a priest if you want more details but do make a small donation upon leave. Plan to visit Debre Berhan Selassie Church and other customer-reviewed, writer-recommended Gonder attractions using our Gonder tour builder.

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Tours to Debre Berhan Selassie Church

FROM $2,791 BOOK WITH VIATOR Northern Ethiopia And Danakil

5.0

Duration: 11 days

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FROM $133 BOOK WITH VIATOR '' Gondar ''Full Day Tour To The Camelot of Africa ( Gondar )

Duration: 5 to 7 hours

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FROM $1,500 BOOK WITH VIATOR 5 Days in Ethiopia Historic Route Tour (Bahir Dar , Gondar, Axum and Lalibela)

Duration: 5 days

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Debre Berhan Selassie Church reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating

409 reviews

Google

4.7

By anzhelinay

I tried to visit this place together with my bf, it is 10th January 2021 today, at first when we arrived about 13-30 pm, they told us the price is 200 etb for each, and the ticket office was closed... more »
By snowythepyro

The murals on the walls of this church are even more amazing than any others we saw in all Ethiopia. It's a lovely compound around the church as well. more »

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Google

By Master Mind

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

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By Muluken Girma

Colorful historic church of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity in Gondar. The paintings on the ceiling are superb

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