Return of lost crown to Cheleqot Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church (Sellassie) is at the heart of Cheleqot, a village 15km south of Mekele, the capital of Tigray. The church was built in 1793, commissioned by Ras WoldeSellassie (1745 – 1816) who was at that time considered the most powerful ruler in Ethiopia.

Cheleqot Sillasie Church is a traditional round building, originally with a thatched roof. The murals in the church were painted by the famous Aleqa Hailu. These are extensive and of the highest quality, painted in the second Gondarine style between 1793 and 1800.

The Sillasie Church also has a remarkable collection of treasures, including beautiful eighteenth and nineteenth century crosses and crowns and manuscripts dating back to the sixteenth century, some of which are amongst the most important in Ethiopia. There are also several objects sent by George III of England. Traveller and diplomat, Henry Salt, undertook missions to Ras WoldeSellassie in 1804 and 1809 to explore trade links. Nathanial Pearce, an English explorer accompanied Salt in 1804 and stayed until his return. Both have written diaries.

Of the rare treasure collections found in church were three similarly design crowns commissioned by Ras Woldesilassie in the 1780s. Unfortunately, in 1993 one of the crowns were stolen from the church. This crown has recently surfaced in an Rotterdam apartment, in The Netherlands. The person that saved it for 20 years wants it’s to be returned to Ethiopia. As much as it is encouraging to see the crown’s return to Ethiopia after two decades of disappearance, it won’t be justice if the crown wasn’t returned to its rightful and original place, i.e., Cheleqot Sillasie Church. Therefore, we call up on all levels of government in Ethiopia, the international community, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Ethiopians from all walk of life to help return this cultural and historical treasure to Cheleqot.