Holy Trinity Cathedral — Attraction in Addis Ababa

The foundation stone of the Menbere Tsabaot Holy Trinity Cathedral was laid on December 15, 1924 AD by His Majesty Haile Selassie I, with a special prayer and blessing in the presence of the Patriarch of the Coptic Church of Alexandria, Abune Yohannes, and the bishops of the country. When the church was built, its primary purpose was to be a cemetery for the martyrs who fought for the independence of their country. The name of the church indicates this.

Construction of the building

The construction of the building was built according to a special plan and the doors and decorations were not installed, but in 1928 AD, Fascist Italy invaded our country by force, so the work had to stop. Since the whole idea of ​​Fascist Italy was to completely strip Ethiopia of its full glory and to leave its mark, it decided to make this cathedral a Catholic cathedral, recognizing the quality of its construction and the convenience of its location. However, it chose to take it by force and force, and instead of taking it by force, it threatened the church leaders of the time and asked them to pay the price. However, the answer it received was a firm "", so it remained in the hands of the enemy.

The Dedication Ceremony

After the Emperor's return in 1933, the construction work was resumed and completed in a timely manner. It was named "Menbere Tsabaot" in the name of the Holy Trinity and was inaugurated on January 7, 1936, in the presence of princes, nobles, scholars, ladies, and the army. The cathedral was dedicated to the veterans who fought during the 5 years of the enemy's invasion. After the blessing of the church, the remains of those who had been thrown into the sea, fallen into the abyss, and drowned in an unknown boat were collected and buried on the same day with a special prayer ceremony and a grand procession.

At the inauguration ceremony of the cathedral, Emperor Haile Selassie I issued the following proclamation.

“We should thank God, the Most High, the Ruler of all the world, for having accomplished one of the greatest blessings that He has ever bestowed upon Ethiopia and our people, our mothers and our veterans, and will continue to bestow upon us in the future.

We have granted the right to the servicemen who have served us, through their work and sacrifice, to be the heirs of the honorable place we have established as a resting place for our royal family. We acknowledge that they have fully attained their due rest, and we salute their bones with honor.”

At the same ceremony, the flags of the various military forces were allowed to be hoisted in this cathedral. This will be a memorial to the veterans who have fallen on the battlefield, to the living army, and to the army.

Therefore, the Emperor also made the award, as confirmed in the following certificate.

In memory of our soldiers who fell on the battlefield to defend Ethiopia from the enemy, and to those who defended and helped Ethiopia in our army; and to those who will defend and help in the future, and to all our loyal citizens, with our good will, we wish to express our gratitude; In order to fulfill the purpose stipulated in Section 15 of our Constitution:

1st/ The flag of our army from 1927 to 1933 2nd/ The flag of the guard of honor 3rd/ The flag of the military academy of Emperor Haile Selassie I 4th/ The flag of the heroes who fell on the battlefield from...

SCAM ALERT! Unfortunately, the history and beauty of the cathedral was tainted by the scamming guide who showed us around. He charged us the normal ticket value (1500 ETB - that includes Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Salessie Museum, for your information, I learned this the hard way), and said he would take us to see the Cathedral, the Selassie Museum and the Menelik II mausoleum. He never mentioned that the mausoleum had an extra cost, he didn't give us the option to decide if we wanted to pay and go or just see the Cathedral. Unknowingly, we visited the mausoleum and at the end the guide asked us for 25 USD per person. I was stunned because I felt scammed. I didn't have that amount of money with me, so he took us to a nearby ATM machine, and after we paid for the mausoleum (we had already visited it so even though I felt scammed, it felt wrong not to pay for the entrance), he shamelessly asked for a 2000 ETB compensation per person for his services. I gave him a 2000 ETB compensation for every person, and he still insisted for more money. In the end, I'm very sorry to say that we felt scammed and 100% do not recommend going there, because it was not worth the 10.000 ETB and all the hassle. If you choose to go, be aware, and just ask bluntly for...

A wonderful place, full of life and great trees and landescapes. A majestic and deeply moving experience. I had the privilege of visiting Holy Trinity Cathedral during my time in Addis Ababa, and it was truly one of the highlights of my trip. The architecture is stunning, with beautiful stained-glass windows, towering domes, and intricate stonework that reflect the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of Ethiopia.

The cathedral is not only a place of worship but also a historical landmark—home to the tombs of Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen Asfaw. Walking through the grounds, I also learned about important figures like Sylvia Pankhurst who are buried here, and the museum on-site provided valuable context about Ethiopia's resistance and resilience during the Italian occupation.

The peaceful atmosphere, the reverence of the space, and the kindness of the staff made the experience even more meaningful. I highly recommend this place to anyone interested in history, architecture, or spirituality.

Tips:

Modest clothing is recommended.

You’ll need to remove your shoes to enter the cathedral.

There is a small entry fee (worth it!).

Take your time exploring the museum and gardens.

A must-visit when in...