Debire Birhan Selassie Church, meaning ‘Trinity and Mountain of Light’ is the most famous place of worship in Gondar. On approach, twelve rounded stone towers – representing the 12 apostles – stand stoically guarding the church, as they have done for centuries. The 13th tower, the tallest of the bunch, represents the Lion of Judah. Eagle-eyed visitors can see an imprint of the Lion on the top half of the tower.

Originally built in the 17th century by Emperor Eyasu II, the present structure was redeveloped during the 1880s following a raid by marauding Sudanese Dervishes and lightning strike that reduced the original building to rubble.