Addis Ababa
Holy Trinity, Addis Ababa
October 2010
Known in Amharic as Kidist Selassie, Holy Trinity Cathedral is a major cathedral of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Addis Ababa. Construction began under Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1931 but was interrupted by the Italian invasion and occupation. Work resumed after Ethiopia’s liberation, and the cathedral was inaugurated in 1943. It was dedicated in part to the patriots who resisted the occupation.
The cathedral is distinguished by its large central dome, arched façade, carved stone decoration, and statues of saints and angels. Its interior contains murals, religious icons, and stained-glass windows illustrating biblical narratives and episodes from Ethiopia’s modern history.
The cathedral contains the tombs of Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen Asfaw. Their tomb monuments incorporate motifs referencing the stelae of Aksum, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, and the Lion of Judah. The surrounding grounds also contain graves and memorials honoring members of the imperial family, senior clergy, public figures, and patriots who opposed the Italian occupation.
Among those buried in the cathedral grounds is British suffragette and anti-fascist campaigner Sylvia Pankhurst. She publicly supported Ethiopia during the Italian invasion, later moved to Addis Ababa, and received an Ethiopian state funeral following her death in 1960.
Holy Trinity Cathedral continues to function as both a place of worship and a site for major Ethiopian Orthodox ceremonies, including the enthronement of senior church leaders and national memorial services.
Field Documentation: Photographs taken in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2010.
2025 Restoration and Re-consecration
Following an extensive conservation and renovation project, Holy Trinity Cathedral was formally reopened and re-consecrated on January 14, 2025. The work was intended to preserve the cathedral and its surrounding historic complex, which had required substantial repairs after approximately eight decades of use.
Members of Ethiopia’s imperial family attended the re-consecration, including Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie and Princess Saba Kebede. Prince Ermias had been appointed an international fundraising ambassador for the cathedral’s restoration campaign in November 2023.
