Our reader provides us with some background context:
Discovering the wonderful frescoes of the Ethiopian Catholic cathedral of Emdibir, undoubtedly the most beautiful in the country, theser absolutely fabulous frescoes were painted from 2010 to 2017 by a renowned Tigrean iconographer, Mel'ake Ghenet Berhè, an Orthodox priest and his son. It was his fifty-sith painted church, fifty of which are Orthodox and six of which are Catholic.
Our reader has provided the following photos, which were provided by Henri Adam de Villiers. The style will seem very rustic, even "folk" to many of our readers, but it is worth highlighting the fact that these images do represent the authentic Ethiopian Christian tradition and style.
This is a style that admittedly may not be to everyone's own personal tastes and preferences, but I believe it is important that our readers be aware that traditional styles such as these exist.
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| The iconostasis |
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| Detail showing the Royal Doors of the iconostasis |
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| The royal doors depict the Archangels Michael and Raphael, shown as guardians of the gates of paradise. |
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| Stepping past the iconostasis we enter what the Ethiopians call the Holy of Holies (a reference back to the Jewish temple). We can see here the Holy Table (altar). |
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| Detail of the ciborium over the altar |
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| Detail of the image of the Mother of God found in the sanctuary. The Mother of God is highly venerated in the Ethiopian liturgy where the Ave Maria is recited several times during the course of the liturgy. |
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| Within the sanctuary we can also find various Old Testament typological references to Christ. Specifically we see here the sacrifice of Abel, the tablets of the Law given to Moses at Mount Sinai, and the sacrifice of bread and wine by Melchisedech -- these are typological references we also see in Byzantine liturgical art. |
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| Pentecost is symbolically depicted within the cathedral, symbolically adjacent to the depiction of the Tower of Babel. The symbolism here, of course, being that while the pride of mankind at Babel resulted in mankind being put into confusion, speaking different tongues, Pentecost (and Christ) remedies that situation for mankind. |
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| The Holy Deacon, Yared, in the 6th century shown organizing the Ethiopian ecclesiastical plainchant called 'Zema.' In the top panel, Yared teaches the chanters, beneath he explains his works to the Emperor Caleb of Ethiopia. |
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| The Agony in the Garden |
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| The Last Judgment is found on the Western wall of the Cathedral. Take note of the two empty books. The intended symbolism here is that these books will be filled by the works of the faithful themselves, who are reminded that they will be judged by their actions as they leave the liturgy and cathedral and go back out into the world. |
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Pope Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II. Beneath is St. Luke.
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