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Gondar's Debre Berhan Selassie: Ethiopia's Church of Angels
Season 3
Episode 112
Published 6 days, 21 hours ago
Description
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the stunning Debre Berhan Selassie church in Gondar, built during the reign of Emperor Iyasu I. Known for its famous angel ceiling and miraculous history of surviving the 18th-century Zemene Mesafint, this church embodies Ethiopia's unique blend of Solomonic tradition, Ge'ez liturgy, and artistic heritage. The hosts discuss the church's architecture, the militant monks who defended it, and the broader context of Gondar's decline, touching on figures like Ras Mikael Sehul and the decentralized warlords of the era. This is a story of faith, art, and resilience in a time of fragmentation.