After lunch it was a visit to the Holy Trinity Cathedral built 1931 – 1944, a representative Coptic Orthodox Church.
We were greeted by the local priest Father Pauli, Aba Paulos. As Nic said in his Facebook Onebigclan page …
"I am the man in charge of the Holy Trinity Church of Addis Ababa. I have been in charge for more than 20 years. If you have any question, do not hesitate and ask. You are my guests and it is a pleasure for me to welcome you here".
https://www.facebook.com/onebigclan?pnref=story
Well, what an immediate impression I had of this really gentle wise tall person. Later we took a few photos with him but my lasting impression would be the first encounter especially with the beautiful afternoon light shining on his face and white beard. My photos don't exactly capture that look.
Thanks Genet for explaining some of the history and symbolism inherent in the Ethiopian Orthodox churches. Like women having their own entrance and sitting on the right, men sitting on the left plus how the altar area is divided into three sections with a copy of the "ark of the covenant" held in the third chamber and this area is restricted to just the priests. This would be repeated time and time again on my northern tour.
I really loved the stained glass windows where one can read the story of the Bible from these pictures: left hand side show scenes from the Old Testament such as Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses with the 10 Commandments, and on the right hand side the most important scenes of the New Testament.
With overhead the elaborate chandeliers accompanying the stained glass windows were the large murals relating to nationally significant events (independence, etc.) all over the church especially the grand mural above the altar. It is the only church that displays non-Christian portrays such as Judaism icons, different regime emblems and marine flags.
The church is also the final resting place for Emperor Haile Selassie and his consort Empress Menen, both interred in matching huge granite tombs and reburied here 25 years after his death in 2000.
At the rear is also a small Menelik museum adjacent to the church housing artefacts of the past Ethiopian ruling class with an array of crosses, chalices, crowns and a throne or two. Again no cameras.
Within the church compound is a graveyard for soldiers who fought the Italian occupation, those who accompanied Haile Selassie into exile, as well as other famous people (politicians, musicians etc) and most recently Meles Zenawi. The jacaranda tree was in full bloom with its beautiful fragrant, purple, trumpet-shaped blooms also providing much needed shade.
Note however being non-Ethiopians are charged an entrance fee of 100 Birr / NZ$6.70 / US$4.90 and this was the first of many "Shoes Off" before stepping into the church. Glad that I had my Boston Birkenstocks for this trip!
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Addis Ababa, Ādīs Ābeba, Ethiopia
Other Entries
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1Bye Auckland - Addis Ababa Here I Come
Dec 112 days priorAuckland, New Zealandphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0 -
2Auckland > Melbourne
Dec 112 days priorMelbourne, Australiaphoto_camera19videocam 0comment 0 -
3Ebola: But Melbourne I’m Coming From NZ
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4Melbourne > Dubai
Dec 121 day priorDubai, United Arab Emiratesphoto_camera3videocam 0comment 0 -
5Circle Dubai
Dec 121 day priorDubai, United Arab Emiratesphoto_camera21videocam 0comment 0 -
6Dubai > Addis
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7Addis – First Impressions
Dec 121 day priorAddis Ababa, Ethiopiaphoto_camera39videocam 0comment 0 -
8HIGHLIGHTS - Addis Arrival
Dec 121 day priorAddis Ababa, Ethiopiaphoto_camera15videocam 0comment 0 -
9Merkato – Central Market
Dec 13earlier that dayAddis Ababa, Ethiopiaphoto_camera120videocam 0comment 0 -
10National Museum
Dec 13earlier that dayAddis Ababa, Ethiopiaphoto_camera61videocam 0comment 0 -
11Mt Entoto
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12Holy Trinity Cathedral
Dec 13Addis Ababa, Ethiopiaphoto_camera45videocam 0comment 1 -
13To Mo Ca - Kaffa Coffee House
Dec 13later that dayAddis Ababa, Ethiopiaphoto_camera31videocam 0comment 0 -
14HIGHLIGHTS Sat 13 Dec: Addis Ababa
Dec 13later that dayAddis Ababa, Ethiopiaphoto_camera172videocam 0comment 0 -
15Donkeys & Yellow Water Containers
Dec 141 day laterArba Minch, Ethiopiaphoto_camera118videocam 0comment 0 -
16HIGHLIGHTS Sun 14 Dec: Addis To Arba Minch
Dec 141 day laterArba Minch, Ethiopiaphoto_camera47videocam 0comment 0 -
17Crocodiles - Lake Chamo
Dec 152 days laterLake Chamo, Ethiopiaphoto_camera101videocam 0comment 0 -
18Dorze Tribe Market
Dec 152 days laterDorse, Ethiopiaphoto_camera129videocam 0comment 0 -
19Dorze Lodge
Dec 152 days laterDorse, Ethiopiaphoto_camera21videocam 0comment 0 -
20Dorze Village
Dec 152 days laterDorse, Ethiopiaphoto_camera31videocam 0comment 0 -
21Sunset – Dorze Village
Dec 152 days laterDorse, Ethiopiaphoto_camera29videocam 0comment 0 -
22Dorze Tribe Dance
Dec 152 days laterDorse, Ethiopiaphoto_camera20videocam 5comment 0 -
23HIGHLIGHTS Mon 15 Dec: Lake Chamo, Dorze Tribe
Dec 152 days laterDorse, Ethiopiaphoto_camera150videocam 2comment 0 -
24No Wi-fi In Konso!
Dec 163 days laterKonso, Ethiopiaphoto_camera69videocam 0comment 0 -
25Konso Museum
Dec 163 days laterKonso, Ethiopiaphoto_camera22videocam 0comment 0 -
26Konso Village
Dec 163 days laterKonso, Ethiopiaphoto_camera83videocam 0comment 0 -
27Konso Chief Gezahegne Woldu Compound
Dec 163 days laterKonso, Ethiopiaphoto_camera34videocam 0comment 0 -
28HIGHLIGHTS Tues 16 Dec: Konso
Dec 163 days laterKonso, Ethiopiaphoto_camera106videocam 0comment 0 -
29South Omo Research Center, Jinka
Dec 174 days laterJinka, Ethiopiaphoto_camera40videocam 0comment 0 -
30Ari Tribe
Dec 174 days laterBako, Ethiopiaphoto_camera61videocam 0comment 0
Comments

2022-08-18
Anna Portoraro
2022-08-10
Hello! I'm glad you enjoyed the stained glass windows -- they were designed by my father and grandfather when they lived in Addis from 1950-57