Saint George church is located in the heart of Addis Ababa, in
the place called Arada (that is why it is often referred as
Arada Giorgis).
Emperor Menelik II dealt a crushing defeat on the forces of
Italy on St. George’s day in 1896 at Adowa. In gratitude to
saint George, who has served as a Patron Saint of the Empire,
and of the Armed Forces, Emperor Menelik commissioned the
construction of a church in his honor in the heart of Addis
Ababa. The Italian prisoners of war assisted in the construction
of the church as their government negotiated the terms of
peace and their release.
The Church of Saint George was where Empress Zewditu was
crowned Empress of Ethiopia in 1917, and where Emperor Haile
Selassie was crowned in 1930. An equestrian statue of Emperor
Menelik II stands in Menelik Square outside the main gates of
the church. It was erected by Emperor Haile Selassie on the
eve of his coronation in 1930. Also at the church is a large
bell which was sent as a gift from Czar Alexander III of
Russia to mark the dedication of the church.
During the Italian Fascist invasion of Ethiopia, an attempt was
made on the life of the Italian Vice-Roy Graziani and in
retaliation, the fascists launched a brutal massacre in Addis
Ababa and during the course of this slaughter, they entered
and torched the church of Saint George. Although the
structure of the Cathedral survived the flames, the interior
was completely gutted.
Following his restoration to the throne in 1941, Emperor Haile
Selassie had the church restored, and new murals were painted
by the famous Ethiopian artists, including Maître Artiste
Afework Tekle.
