Medhane Alem Cathedral is a magnificent religious structure which is located in the Bole neighborhood, in the heart of Addis Ababa, the capital city of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

As it is situated in an area that is quite popular among tourists and locals alike, this majestic Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo cathedral is an iconic landmark that attracts thousands of visitors every year. As the construction of the cathedral began in 1924 and was completed in 1931, its construction and constant building direction were under the guidance of Emperor Haile Selassie.

As his excellent vision was to build a grand church that would serve as a symbol of the nation’s religious and cultural heritage, the cathedral was designed by an Indian architect named Zenaye Workeneh, featuring a blend of Ethiopian and European architectural styles, and after its completion, the church is known to be the second largest cathedral in the whole of Africa and the largest in Ethiopia.