About the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Introduction

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches and one of the few Christian churches in the World. History of the EOTC church dates back more than 2,000 years to the Old Testament and the first Ethiopian Christian convert by Phillip the Evangelist is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.  

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Theological Foundation The Meaning of "Tewahedo"

The Ethiopian church included into its name the word tewahedo, a Geʿez word meaning "unity" and expressing the church's miaphysite belief. This position holds that the human and divine natures were equally present through the mystery of the Incarnation within a single nature of Jesus Christ.

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Communion with Other Orthodox Churches

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is in communion with the other Oriental Orthodox churches: the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Syriac Orthodox Church. 

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Administrative Structure

The supreme authority in matters of church administration and justice - legislative, administrative and judicial - belongs to the holy synod which meets twice a year, under the chairmanship of His Holiness the Patriarch. 

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Unique Practices and Traditions Sacred Scripture and Liturgy

The church has 81 canonical books and 14 anaphoras. The language of the divine service is Geez, the ancient language of Ethiopia. Today, however, portions of the liturgy are also rendered in Amharic.

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Fasting Traditions

There are seven official fasting periods: (1) all Wednesdays and Fridays (except during the 50 days after Easter); (2) the Lenten fast; (3) the Nineveh fast; (4) the vigils or Gahad of Christmas and Epiphany; (5) the fast of the apostles; (6) the fast of the prophets; (7) the fast of the Assumption.

 

The Tabot (Ark of the Covenant)

Throughout Ethiopia, Orthodox churches are not considered churches until the local bishop gives them an Ark of the Covenant (Tabot). It is always kept in ornate coverings on the altar. Only priests are allowed to touch the Tabot. In an elaborate procession, the tabot is carried around the outside of the church amid joyful song on the feast day of that particular church's name sake.

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​Educational Institutions

Holy Trinity Theological College, the leading Orthodox faculty of theology in the country, was founded as a high school in 1942 by Emperor Haile Selassie. In 1994 Patriarch Paulos presided over the reopening of Trinity Theological College; it now has plans to expand into a university to serve the modernization of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church through theological, management and leadership training.

 

Resources and Websites

• Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church - Patriarchate Head Office

  • Official patriarchate website

• General church resources

  • Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

  • Mahibere Kidusan

• ​Youth and Educational Organizations

  • ​Youth of Orthodox Tewahedo Churches

  • Bay Area Bible Society

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