Tour Guide, Gondar, Ethiopia
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When Ethiopian Orthodox churches are built, much attention is given to church structure. The churches are designed in a way that they symbolize religious meaning. There are three types of church buildings each with their own purpose.
The first is the rectangular shaped church. These churches represent the ark of salivation (Noah’s ark) in which the world is saved from the flood of temptation. This represents the church as a place of refuge which saves our soul through faith. It also represents the temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. The design is copied from that of churches built by Constantine and his mother Elina in Jerusalem during the Christian era. The number of domes on the top of these churches is only limited by the size of the church.
Moreover, unlike other church designs, there is no specific limit on the number of doors. This church might have three, four or five doors. This church structure is common among the eastern churches. The form has come to Ethiopia through the influence of the nine saints in 480 AD.
For example, the church of Debre Birhan Selassie (Trinity and Mountain of Light) is shaped like the Arc of Noah. A must visit while in Gondar.