Marian Advocations of Ethiopia
Ethiopia cherishes one of the oldest and most developed mariologies of Christianity: Mary, sung as the Ark of the Alliance, is honored by Catholics and Orthodox in great sanctuaries and at the festivals of the Filseta and the Kidane Mehret.
- Marvel and Marian anecdotes of Ethiopia
- The Emperor Zara Yaqob (15th century), famous for his ardent Marian devotion, ordered the celebration of the Kidane Mehret (Pact of Mercy) throughout his kingdom and the creation of churches dedicated to the Virgin in strategic places, giving her protection from enemies and heresy.
- The Ethiopian tradition applies to Mary the image of the Ark of the Covenant, symbolism that imbues her sanctuaries and that in Axum joins the account of the Virgin protecting the Ark from invasions.
- The fast of the Filseta, fifteen days before the Sleep of the Virgin in August, brings together many faithful in the churches of Mariam throughout the country as a great national Marian feast.
Addis Ababa archieparoch
History of Marian devotion in Ethiopia
The devotion to the Virgin Mary in Ethiopia, although a minority in a country of Muslim majority or traditional African religions, has a significant presence among local Christian communities. Christianity has come to these lands through European missionaries since the 15th century (Portuguese, French, Spanish), and the figure of Mary was one of the pillars of evangelization. Marian apparitions in Africa, like Kibeho's in Rwanda (1981- 1989), have boosted Marian devotion throughout the continent.
In Ethiopia, the Virgin is venerated under various advocacy, many of them introduced by the missionaries: the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes. The local Catholic communities keep the devotion to Mary alive through the prayer of the Rosary, processions and patronal parties, which are expressions of an incarnate faith in African culture.
Marian Advocations of Ethiopia
Our Lady of the Nativity
The Catholic Cathedral of Addis Ababa is dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the Ethiopian-remote rite.
"Our Lady of Nativity, pray for us."
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
It is a Catholic parish dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Relief in Addis Ababa, within the Metropolitan Archieparch of Addis Ababa (Ethiopian rite).
🙏 Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us.
Gishen Mariam
According to Ethiopian tradition, Gishen Debre Kerbe Mariam was founded in the 5th century by King aksumita Kaleb, with the spiritual help of the so-called "Nine Saints" from the Byzantine Empire.
"Our Lady, Gishen Mariam, pray for us.
Saint Mary of Zion of Axum
The Church of St. Mary of Zion (Our Lady Mary of Zion) is located in Aksum (Axum) in northern Ethiopia and belongs to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Tewahedo.
"Our Lady, St. Mary of Zion of Axum, pray for us.
Kidane Mehret, the "Covenant of Mercy of Mary"
Kidane Mehret significa en ge’ez “Pacto de Misericordia” o “Covenant of Mercy”.
"Our Lady, Kidane Mehret, the" Covenant of Mercy of Mary, "pray for us.
Our Lady of Kulubi
Kulubi is one of the largest Christian pilgrimage centers in Ethiopia, especially linked to the veneration of the archangel of Saint Gabriel, much loved in the tradition of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
"Our Lady of Kulubi, pray for us.
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