The '''Nine Roman Saints''' are credited with enculturating the Orthodox Faith in the Ethiopian Empire after its conversion by St. [[Frumentius of Axum]] in the fourth century and are widely venerated in the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]].

It is said that the Nine Saints arrived in AksumAxum, the first great capital city of Ethiopia, in 480. They came from various parts of the East Roman Empire, having fled the persecutions of the Orthodox who remained faithful to the teaching of St. Cyril after Chalcedon's acceptance of the semi-Nestorian tome of Pope Leo the Great. The most prominent among the Nine Saints were the hieromonks [[Abba Zemika'el]], [[Abba Aregawi]], [[Abba P'antalewon]] (Panteleimon), [[Abba Aftse]], and [[Abba Gerima]] (also known as Yisihaq/Isaac), but the name of [[Abba Guba]] was also recorded.

The histories of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church record that the Nine Saints lived for a time at St. Pachomius' Monastery in Egypt before continuing on to Ethiopia. After their arrival in Aksum Axum the Nine Saints studied Ge'ez, the national language at that time, and learned the customs of the Ethiopian people. They then spread out in different directions, preaching the Gospel and establishing monasteries wherever they went. Only [[Abba Libanos]] ('Fr. Lebanon' - possibly a title derived from his home country and not his actual name) and Abba P'antalewon remained near AksumAxum, the later founding a church on the outskirts of this city that continues in use to this day.

Of the Nine Saints who left the vicinity of Aksum several established monasteries and churches on old center of pagan worship. In the place where a serpent had long been worshiped Abba Zemika'el overthrown the pagan cult and founded the famous Monastery of Debre Damo. Abba Aftse traveled to the once great city of YihaYeha, where he converted its ancient Sabaean temple into a church.

Thanks to the work of the Nine Roman Saints the Apostolic Faith was firmly planted in Ethiopia and began to use the Ge'ez language in its divine services instead of Greek. The Nine Saints were themselves responsible for having the translation of the Holy Bible, begun in the time of St. Frumentius, completed. They also had a number of the writings of the Fathers, including those of Sts. [[Athanasius and of Alexandria]], [[Cyril of Alexandria ]], and [[Pachomius the Great]], translated into Ge'ez.