The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world, with roots tracing back to the 4th century AD. Christianity was officially introduced to Ethiopia during the reign of King Ezana of Aksum, who was converted by St. Frumentius, a Syrian Christian later known in Ethiopia as Abba Selama. This marked the beginning of Ethiopia as one of the first Christian nations in the world.
The church was historically under the jurisdiction of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, and Ethiopian bishops were appointed by the Coptic Patriarch of Egypt for centuries. It wasn’t until 1959 that the Ethiopian Church received its own Patriarch and became administratively independent, though it remains doctrinally aligned with the Oriental Orthodox communion.
The word "Tewahedo" means "being made one," reflecting the church’s belief in the Miaphysite doctrine that Christ has one united nature, both human and divine—unlike the two-nature doctrine of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
The church uses the ancient Ge'ez language in its liturgy and maintains unique biblical texts, traditions, and festivals. It has deeply influenced Ethiopian culture, art, music, and national identity. Monasticism, fasting, and veneration of saints and angels are key features of religious life.
Today, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church remains a major religious institution in Ethiopia and among Ethiopian communities worldwide.