Ethiopian is a country with long and rich history of culture and religion. Ethiopia is one of the five countries designated as the Oriental Orthodox Churches consisting of Armenia, Syria Egypt (Coptic Christians) and India. Ethiopia was introduced to Christianity by the Ethiopian eunuch when he returned to Ethiopia from his pilgrimage to Jerusalem after being baptized by Philip the Evangelist in 34 AD. [Acts 8:26-40].

The Ethiopian Orthodox church is called the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The Holy Synod headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is the highest authority and religious assembly of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church that oversees churches’ faith, canon, code of worship, and appoints archbishops and patriarch. Churches organized and operating under this Holy Synod-the mother church are administered in accordance with the Kale Awadi.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Diocese of Minnesota and surrounding reports to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church-the mother church Holy Synod headquartered in Addis Ababa. The Archbishop appointed by this Holy Synod will lead and administer the Diocese.

Our church, Debre Tsion Kidist Ledeta Lemariam Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church reports to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Diocese of Minnesota and surrounding. Our Church is established in accordance with, and governed by, the Ethiopian-mother church’s faith, canon, code of worship, tradition, and Kale Awadi.

Debre Tsion Kidist Ledeta Lemariam Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is organized for the purposes of: providing spiritual services to the faithful of the Orthodox Tewahedo Christianity, creating programs and activities that offer spiritual and cultural guidance, creating opportunities for others to learn about the history and practices of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christianity, and fostering mutual respect, love, and care within the parish as well as among all children of God.