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==Early Life and Education==
Abune Zena Marqos was born to Begosew Weldetsadeq Welde Tsadeq and Genet Weldegiyorgis Welde Giyorgis on 2 November 1937 in Dega Melza, a community in the traditionally Orthodox Christian province of Begemidir in northwestern Ethiopia. Both of Abune Zena Marqos' parents were pious Orthodox Christians and were closely attached together with his extended family to St. George's Church near Melza Shumge.
The future archbishop was a bright and gifted child with a great love for everyone. From his youth he was raised in the Orthodox Faith and by the age of 12 he was versed in the Psalms, the tonal system of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the divine services. Because of his intelligence Abune Zena Marqos was sent away to St. Mary's Church in Birqwaqwa to study the complex religious poetry (qene), scriptural commentaries, and liturgics of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
At a young age Abune Zena Marqos joined St. Anna's Monastery in Debre Tsina to study the Divine Liturgy under Memhir WeldesemaWelde Sema'et, a prominent Ethiopian Orthodox priest and scholar. Fr. WeldesemaWelde Sema'et was known as an elder and was often visited by monks and hermits from other parts of Ethiopia. During one such visit a hermit noticed the future archbishop serving in church and asked in surprise who had brought a seraphim to Debre Tsina. (Later in life Abune Zena Marqos became known for the beauty and feeling with which he celebrated the Divine Liturgy.)
Abune Zena Marqos was eventually nominated by Patriarch Tewoflos to undertake higher studies abroad and was consequently sent to Greece to complete a masters in theology.
