KIDIST BETHLEHEM and ZURABA TSERHAARYAM

Kidist Bethlehem is one of the oldest existing churches in African soil dated back to the 4th century and constructed in the same style of the first Axum Tsion church which was destroyed by Yodit. It is the Degua University and accreditation center of Ethiopian Orthodox church. The term Degwa is the liturgical book of the Ethiopian Church which contains the hymns and troparions for the Divine Office; it is arranged in calendar order and divided according to the seasons of the liturgical year.

Established in the 6th century, ZURABA TSERHAARYAM is the ZEMARIE and MEWASEAT University and accreditation center of Ethiopian Orthodox church. The term ‘Zemarie ’ stands for chanting that is performed during the church’s rituals of the Eucharist. Whereas, ‘Mewaseat’ refers to chanting dedicated to various church and societal ceremonies’ such as, a musical expression that is performed to express grief at times of deaths.

Both KIDIST BETHLEHEM and ZURABA TSERHAARYAM are rich in old paintings, church antiquities, historical relics, old and unique architectures, amazing history and dramatic locations which are open for foreign tourists only recently.