Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion
| Church of Our Lady St. Mary of Zion | |
|---|---|
ርዕሰ አድባራት ቅድስተ ቅዱሳን ድንግል ማሪያም ጽዮን | |
| Old church (top) and modern basilica (bottom) of St. Mary of Zion | |
Church of Our Lady St. Mary of Zion | |
| Location | Axum, Tigray Region |
| Country | Ethiopia |
| Denomination | Oriental Orthodox |
| Tradition | Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church |
| History | |
| Status | Church complex (Old and New) |
| Founded | Original: 4th century Old: 17th century Modern: 1950s–1964 |
| Founder(s) | Original: Ezana of Axum (4th c.) Old: Fasilides (17th c.) New: Haile Selassie (1950s–1964) |
| Dedication | Saint Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Old: Gondarine-style (17th c.); New: Modern basilica/dome (mid-20th c.) |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, mortar (Old); reinforced concrete & stone (New) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Axum |
The Church of Our Lady, Mary of Zion is an Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church which is claimed to contain the Ark of the Covenant.
The church is located in the town of Axum, Tigray Region in northern Ethiopia, near the grounds of Obelisks of Axum. The original church is believed to have been built during the reign of Ezana the first Christian ruler of the Kingdom of Axum (present-day Eritrea and Ethiopia), during the 4th century AD, and has been rebuilt several times since then. Women are not permitted entry into the “Old Church”; the Blessed Virgin Mary, representing the archetype of the Ark, is the only place women are allowed within its premises.