Holy Trinity Cathedral

Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kidist Selassie, was completed in 1944 and is the second most important place of worship in the Ethiopian Orthodox church after the church at Aksum, built in a mixed style with domes, arches and carved stonework and considerably more ornate than most Ethiopian churches. The interior has stained glass, mosaics and painted panels, and the tombs of Haile Selassie and Empress Menen stand inside in carved granite; the emperor's remains were interred here in 2000. In the grounds are the graves of many notable Ethiopians, and a memorial to those killed in the political violence of the twentieth century. The cathedral is used for state occasions and remains an active parish, so services take precedence over visits.

What you actually see

• The ornate exterior - domes, arches and carved stone unusual in Ethiopia.
• The imperial tombs - the granite sarcophagi inside the church.
• Stained glass and mosaics - the decorated interior.
• The cemetery - graves of notable figures in the grounds.

When to go

Year round; the cathedral is open daily outside service times. Sunday mornings are given over to worship. Timkat and other major feasts bring very large congregations.

Honest expectations

This is a working cathedral, so dress codes apply and visits work around services. Photography inside is restricted. Guides at the entrance are effectively compulsory and payment is expected. The visit takes under an hour.

Nearby

The National Museum is close; Unity Park lies west.