HUMANS

While visiting the famous Orthodox Trinity Cathedral in Addis Abeba, I found myself in the middle of a 24 hour-praying ritual of hundreds of pelgrims. Most of them had stick to keep them from falling over during such a prayer marathon.

 

Ethiopia’s last emperor, Haile Selassie, also revered as the 'Lion of Judah’, was reburied in a tomb in this cathedral. He had built the church himself. Eight years before, his remains were discovered buried under a toilet in his palace. His body has lain in a mausoleum for 8 years waiting to be reburied, which finally happened in 2000.

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Haile Selassie portrayed himself as an enlightened monarch leading his country towards development, but in reality he used oppression and brutality and most of his subjects lived in dire poverty.

 

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church still considers him its head and Rastafarians worship Haile Selassie as God incarnate.

 

Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, 2010