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The '''Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church''' (in Amharic: ''Yäityop'ya ortodoks täwahedo bétäkrestyan'') is an [[Oriental Orthodox]] church in Ethiopia that was part of the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Church]] until 1959, when it was granted its own [[Patriarch]] by [[List of Coptic Popes|Coptic Pope]] Cyril VI. The only pre-colonial Christian church of [[Orthodoxy in Sub-Saharan Africa|Sub-Saharan Africa]], it claims a membership of close to 36 million people worldwide, and is thus the largest of all Oriental Orthodox churches. Its current head is most recent primate was His Holiness Abune P'awlos (born 1935, elected 1992), Patriarch of Addis Ababa and All Ethiopia, who reposed on August 18, 2012.

''Tewahedo'' (Ge'ez ''tawāhidō'', modern pronunciation ''tewāhidō'') is a Ge'ez word meaning "being made one"; it is related to the Arabic word توحيد ''tawhid'', meaning "monotheism," or more literally "unification." This refers to the [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox]] belief in the one single unique [[Christology|Nature of Christ]] (i.e., a belief that a complete, natural union of the Divine and Human Natures into One is self-evident in order to accomplish the divine salvation of humankind), as opposed to the "two Natures of Christ" belief (unmixed, separated Divine and Human Natures, called the [[Hypostatic Union]]) promoted by today's [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and Eastern Orthodox churches. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia article on the [[Henoticon]] [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07218b.htm]: the [[Patriarch]]s of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, and many others, all refused to accept the "two natures" doctrine decreed by the Byzantine Emperor [[Marcian]]'s [[Council of Chalcedon]] in 451, thus separating them from the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, who themselves separated from one another later in the [[Great Schism]] (1054). The Oriental Orthodox Churches, which today include the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church]], the [[Church of Armenia|Armenian Apostolic Church]], the [[Church of Antioch (Syriac)|Syriac Orthodox Church]], the [[Church of India|Malankara Orthodox Church]] of India, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the [[Church of Eritrea|Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church]], are referred to as "Non-Chalcedonian", and, sometimes by outsiders as "[[Monophysitism|monophysite]]" (meaning "One Nature", in reference to Christ; a rough translation of the name ''Tewahido''). However, these Churches themselves describe their [[Christology]] as [[miaphysiteMiaphysitism|Miaphysite]].

The divine services of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church are celebrated primarily in the Ge'ez language, which has been the language of the Church at least since the arrival of the [[Nine Saints]] ([[Abba PantelewonP'entelewon]], [[Abba Gerima ]] (Issac or Yisihaq), [[Abba Zemika'el Aregawi]], [[Abba Aftse]], [[Abba Guba]], [[Abba Alef]], [[Abba Yem'ata]], [[Abba Liqanos]], and [[Abba Sehma]]), who fled persecution by the East Roman emperors after the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The [[Septuagint]] version of the Old Testament was translated into Ge'ezaround the time of the Nine Saints. Services are also occasionally served in Amharic or English in the Ethiopian Diaspora and in Amharic at St. Stephen's Church in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. [[Sermon]]s are delivered in the local languages of the Church's faithful, which include Amharic, Gambela, Gurage, Oromo, Sidama, and Tigrayan.

There are many [[Monolithic church|monolithic churches]] in Ethiopia, most famously the twelve churches at [[Lalibela]]. After these, two main types of architecture are found—one [[basilica]]n, the other native. The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion at Axum is basilican, though the early basilicas are nearly all in ruin. These examples show the influence of those architects who, in the 6th century, built the basilicas at Sanaá and elsewhere in the Arabian Peninsula. There are two forms of native churches -- one square or oblong, traditionally found in Tigray; the other circular, traditionally found in Amhara and Shewa (though either style may be found elsewhere). The square type may be due to basilican influence, the circular is an adaptation of the native hut. In both forms, the sanctuary is square and stands clear in the center and the arrangements are based on Jewish tradition. Walls and ceilings are adorned with frescoes. A courtyard, circular or rectangular, surrounds the body of the church. Modern Ethiopian churches may incorporate the basilican or native styles, and use contemporary construction techniques and materials. In rural areas, the church and outer court are often thatched with mud-built walls.

*[http://www.ethiopianorthodox.org/english/indexenglish.htm html General Information (1)]

*[http://www.tewahedo.ch/ Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Switzerland]*[http://pro.netnation.com/~national/azmariam/html/ Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Phoenix]*[http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg-usdefault.aspx?eccpageIDID=7 &pagetypeID=9&sitecode=HQ&pageno=1 CNEWA - Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church] by Ronald Roberson, a Roman Catholic priest and scholar