Ethiopian Orthodox

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is one of the world's oldest Christian traditions, with an unbroken lineage dating to the 4th century CE when King Ezana adopted Christianity as the state religion. The church's theology emphasizes the incarnation of Christ and the veneration of Mary (Mariam), mother of God. Ethiopian Christianity is distinct from both Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, having developed its own liturgy, ecclesiastical structure, and spiritual practices shaped by African, Jewish, and Christian influences. The founding myth centers on Queen Makeda of Sheba's visit to King Solomon of Israel — from this union came Menelik I, founder of the Solomonic dynasty that ruled Ethiopia until 1974. The Ark of the Covenant, believed to have been brought to Ethiopia by Menelik I, is claimed to reside in the Church of Our Lady of Zion in Aksum, making Ethiopia the spiritual successor to ancient Israel. The Ethiopian church maintains a monastic tradition of profound spiritual discipline, with monks and nuns undertaking extraordinary acts of devotion and pilgrimage. Ethiopian Christianity is a living, vibrant tradition with millions of adherents across Ethiopia and the diaspora, practicing unique rituals, observing an extended Lenten period, and maintaining ancient liturgical languages (Ge'ez).