Dabre Berhan Selassi Monastery. Church of the Holy Trinity.

ETHIOPIAN 2ND GONDARINE STYLE Anonymous (c. 1730 - 19th c): The basilica church was built on the site of a round church which had been founded by Yyasu I in the 1690s. The dating of the current church is questioned, although it seems to have been constructed after Yyas's church was destroyed by lightning. The new church, which is variously dated from the late 18th century or from 1815-1826, has a three part division like the old Jewish temple. The first room is the qene mahlet (chant of praise) where the divine office is chanted and where the congregation go. The second is the qedest (saint) reserved for non-officiating clergy where the eucharist is given. The last is the maqdas or sanctuary (holy of holies) where the litury is celebrated by the officiating priests. The sacred tabot which stands for the arc is kept here and is only brought out on feast days.