Ethiopia is often described as the land of God and mystery. Ethiopia uniquely remained with her original name, territorial integrity, national unity and her Christian faith. Ethiopia is known in the Holy Bible and in world literature for being a country that worships the true God for thousands of years. The word of the Bible has affirmed this saying, “Ethiopia shall stretch her hands unto God!” (PS 68-31)

There are numerous sacred places in Ethiopia – churches, monasteries, sites for religious festivals and holy water. All these highly Christian venerated places began with the first St. Mary Church of Zion. The ancient remain on the site of the Church of Saint Mary of Zion at Axum was the first church, built by the first Christian Kings of the country, ‘Ella Abreha and Astbeha’ in the year 340 A.D. It was the time Christianity first came into the country. Menelik I, the legendary first king of the land, the son of Solomon and the ‘Queen of Sheba’ brought the ancient Israeli Ark of the Covenant, which he had stolen from the Temple on Mount Zion in Jerusalem and which gives the church its name. It’s believed the Ark of the covenant to be housed at a chapel on this site to this day. When the old church was destroyed by the Sultan Mohammed Gragn, the Portuguese in the mid-sixteenth century built another church on the old site. A new very elegant cathedral and treasury were also built by king Haile Selassie in the 1960’s.

There is a good spread of Orthodox Christian churches in all parts of the country. Each church houses the replica of the original Ark of the Covenant called, ‘Tabot’ in Amharic.

There are also highly sacred monasteries in Ethiopia, most of which are named after the Saints who first established them.
The Monastery of Dabre Damo, which is located in Tigray region on a flat-topped peak of 2,800 m above sea level. It is the oldest and the most distinguished marvel. This flat-topped plateau measures abut 1000 meters from northeast to southwest and 500 meters from northwest to southeast, and is surrounded by sheer cliffs. Ascent to the mountain top is only possible by using the 15 meter plaited leather rope that is hanging down from the summit. The church of this monastery is dedicated to its founder, Abune Aregawi (Zemikael), one of the nine Saints who taught gospel in the country in the 6th century.

Ziqualla-Abbo is another highly reputed monastery located near the southern outskirts of Addis Ababa. It was funded in the 12th century by Saint Gebre Manfus Qiddus, or Abbo who came to Ethiopia during the reign of King Lalibela from his native country Nehisa in Egypt. According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian faith, he was led by the archangel Gabriel to the country of Kabd, and from there to Ziqualla Mountain, where he was assailed by five hundred demons. At the monastery, over two hundred monks have kept alive the tradition of primitive monasticism, which was founded in the fourth century by St. Pacome and St. Macaire in the Egyptian deserts.

Debre Libanos Monastry is also highly respected as one of the most ancient sacred places for Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. Located 103 km north of Addis Ababa, the monastery was founded by the Ethiopian Saint Tekle Haymanot in the 13th century. It’s a gorge monastery amid breath taking views over chasms with a depth of 2,000 ft or more. The church stands beneath a cliff edge of the gorge. It has beautiful stained glass windows and mosaic figures on the façade. The abundance of natural beauty around the monastery can be also witnessed by viewing the endemic gregarious gelada baboons ( The bleeding hears or the lion monkey as they are often described) and birds of prey that soar overhead.

There are also other equally fascinating ancient monasteries founded by highly venerated Saints throughout the country. According to the faith of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, Saints are given favors by God because they sacrifice themselves in His name.

Hidar Tsion Festival ,The Celebration of St. Mary of Zion – 29th November
Hidar Tsion is one of the most highly regarded religious celebrations of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church that takes place in the fantastic highland town of Axum, Ethiopia’s most sacred city. Axum is where according to Ethiopian legend; the Ark of the Coven ant resides within the church of St. Mary of Zion. Axum also has fascinating archeological sites including the ruins of the palace of the queen of Sheba. The Ark of the Covenant, first mentioned in exodus in the Old Testament, is the wooden chest where precise instructions given to Moses at the time he received the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. The ark holds an especially important place in liturgical worship in Ethiopia, and a Tabot, or a symbolic wooden or stone replica of the Ark, is found in every Ethiopian church. The Ark is also strongly associated with St. Mary, who is one of the most important figures in Ethiopia’s Orthodox Christianity. The joyous Hidar Tsion festival is a pilgrimage attended by thousands of people from all around the country.

KULUBI GABRIEL (Celebration of St. Gabriel) -28th of December and 26th of July
The Arch Angel Gabriel is the most popular patron Saint for many Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. The festival is celebrated twice a year in the most colorful way that can profoundly fascinate visitors of any religion. These two annual celebrations of Saint Gabriel take place on the 28th of December as well as on the 26th of July. The origin of the Church of St. Gabriel at Kulubi is traced back to the last decade of 19th century and it was Ras Mekonnen (Haile Selassie's father) who is credited with the construction.

Large crowds of people gather on the day of this celebration. People of all ages, sexes, classes and even religion come to this sacred place from all corners of Ethiopia. Pilgrims walk to the Church to make or fulfill a vow, to ask favors, or in many cases to give thanks for favors granted. Some carry heavy rocks on their backs, particularly for the last few kilometers uphill to the Church. The church is highly famed for attracting devoted Christians who wish to make a vow and it is also widely believed that their vows are often fulfilled.

GISHEN MARIAM (Feast of the Piece of the Cross) – 1st October
Gishen Mariam Monastery is located 483 kilometers north of Addis Ababa in Wollo Region on the naturally crude cruciform-shaped land. The abundance natural beauty and the marvels of this ancient church are immensely thrilling for visitors. Girdled by sheer cliffs in all directions and with only one access, the church is perched at the top of a hill. The church served as the ‘Royal Prison’ during the Medieval political history of Ethiopia for its highly secluded landscape.

A fragment from the original True Cross is buried underneath this church. Because of this, this shrine is one of the most sacred churches in the country. Emperor Dawit is said to have brought this piece of Christ's cross from Egypt. This is one of the precious religious relics of the church that draws thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the country. In the 14th Century, Emperor Zara Yacob, said to be led by the Holy Spirit brought this treasure to its present location at Gishen, whom the annual celebration of the feast of the Piece of the Cross is associated with. The Monastery holds a volume of a book which records the story of the True Cross of Christ and how it was acquired.

The celebration of the festival at Gishen Mariam is highly colorful and fascinating with a large number of believers congregated on the marvelous landscape of the Monastery praying and chanting both on the eve that falls on September 30 and on the following day of the main celebration,

Debre Damo (Feast of Saint Aregawi) - 24th October
This religious celebration of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church takes place on the 24th of October on the flat-topped peak of Debre Damo Monastery, 2800 meters above sea level. Thousands of pilgrims congregate from all around the country to celebrate the feast of Saint Aregawi, one of the famous nine saints who came to Ethiopia from Middle East about the turn of the fifth century as Monophysite missionaries. Ascent to the mountain top is only possible by using the 15 meter plaited leather rope that is hanging down from the summit. In addition to the stunning colorful celebration, the natural beauty and marvels of this ancient monastery is awe-inspiring.

SHEIKH HUSSEIN - (An Islamic Pilgrimage)
The sacred shrine of Sheikh Hussein is located 592 km southeast of Addis Ababa in the desert plains of Bale Province. Its glistening white domes float in a vast sea of emerald green scrub. Through the heat haze and craggy outlines of the Bale Mountains on the distant horizon, this remote shrine and its sacred compound house the tomb of a Saint renowned for his miraculous powers.

In the 700 years since the Sheikh’s death, the pilgrimage has evolved into an amalgam of saint cult & ancient ritual. Although little is known of Sheikh Hussein's history, his shrine has become the site one of Ethiopia's most extraordinary pilgrimages. Twice each year up to 50,000 pilgrims, most coming from Ethiopia's remote villages, make an arduous journey to pray at the shrine of Shiekh Hussein.

By tradition, the departure of the pilgrims from their remote villages is led by the waxing and waning of the moon. Some will travel by donkey or mule, but most will walk - often barefoot - for up to 6 weeks or more to reach this sacred place. (From two days to two weeks visit for each pilgrimage along with other fascinating destinations)