Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church finds new home in Seward

If you’ve been anywhere near the intersection of 26^th Street and 30^th Avenue South in the last year, you can’t have missed seeing the construction of the new Ethiopian church there. Most visually striking are the three green rooftop domes, and a series of graceful white arches that flank the main entrance. The doors of the church were opened for a neighborhood Open House on April 18, 2026from 2-4 p.m. and an estimated 300 people attended,.

Visitors were able to view the colorful painted fabric panels that decorate the sanctuary, and to hear Deacon Nibyu explain the origins of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. One of oldest facets of Christianity, it expanded into the western hemisphere in the 1960s to serve growing numbers of Ethiopian immigrant communities.

Construction of the new church began in November 2024, and had a price tag of nearly $11,000,000 including the cost of the land. The congregation had been housed in a much smaller church they owned at 4401 Minnehaha Avenue since 1999, and in other Minneapolis locations before that.

 The open house included music played by children of the congregation on traditional Ethiopian stringed instruments called begenas, Ethiopian food, and fellowship.

According to Board Chair Debalke Gebeyehu, “The purpose of our church goes beyond the typical religious services. It also encompasses community services for thousands of Ethiopian immigrants living in the metro area and across the state of Minnesota. The church is a living bridge for immigrants who want to maintain their religious, social, and cultural ties to Ethiopia.”

Church services are conducted in Ge’ez, the liturgical language of Ethiopia, and in Amharic – Ethiopia’s national language. Some portions of the service are translated into English. Visitors are welcome to attend the Sunday morning services, which take place between 7-11 a.m.