The History of Kidist Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta

Nov 21, 2025 0

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is one of the oldest churches in the world, with a deep tradition that goes back to the fourth century A.D.

The Kidist Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral (St. Mary) was founded in Atlanta in 1987 by a small group of faithful Ethiopians. It was established as a nonprofit religious corporation in the state of Georgia.

Since that time, Kidist Mariam Church has taken the lead in providing services to meet the spiritual, cultural, and economic needs of the Ethiopian immigrant population in the greater Atlanta area.

The church upholds the centuries-old tradition and values of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and increases the awareness of our community in the greater Atlanta area about the history, cultures, languages, and tradition of Ethiopia. It also provides services consistent with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church practices.

Early Challenges and Growth

Initially, Kidist Mariam Church was serving its congregation in a chapel rented from Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Atlanta.

The chapel we rented was very small; we were conducting our church services under extreme difficulty. The space constraints have limited the types of services that we can offer and also greatly restricted the number of persons served.

Because those reasons, members of the church encouraged by their strong conviction and deep religious dedication, purchased a church located at 266 Robin Street Decatur, Georgia, in 1995.

However, as the size of the congregation grew faster than expected the Church was still unable to provide essential services for many hundreds of Ethiopians.

New Cathedral Construction

Again, with members and all Christians’ fulfillment of their spiritual obligations, the church acquired and fully paid for 5.5 acres of land, to build bigger facilities.

By the grace of God, and ceaseless effort and unremitting perseverance by members and the administration of the Church, our church contraction was completed and blessed by His Holiness Abune Merkorios, Patriarch of Ethiopia on August 29, 2009.

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The dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony of our brand new Cathedral, located at 1152 South Stone Mountain Lithonia Rd., Lithonia, GA, was attended by archbishops, dignitaries, and representatives of various churches, organizations, and institutions.

Now that this complex is completed, the largest and most traditionally built Ethiopian Orthodox Church ever constructed outside of Ethiopia will provide adequate space for both worship and community outreach activities for many Ethiopians.

Community Outreach and Services

The church plans to offer classes in health promotion and disease prevention, anti-crime meetings, social and youth activities, and English language training, educational and employment referrals and senior citizens activities.

These services will be available to the entire Ethiopian community and other interested individuals, regardless of faith commitment.

Above all, our church is committed to build a strong orthodox community that promotes the teachings of Our Lord to love one another and that does not condone ethnicism, tribalism and racism.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church Explained

Neutral Principles of Law Approach

The parish articles of incorporation stipulated that the parish was autonomous with respect to the “internal affairs of the corporation.” The parish bylaws indicated acceptance of the archbishop’s authority only over religious, spiritual, and liturgical matters.

The court ruled that, “even assuming Archbishop Matthias was authorized in declaring the removal of the corporation’s Board of Directors because of their decision to remove Rev. Haregewoyn as priest of the Kidist Mariam Church, neither the Archbishop nor the Atlanta Group had authority to appoint the corporation’s Board of Directors.”

Visiting the Church

What a remarkable experience I had visiting the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church! One of the first things I noticed was an icon near the middle of the “iconostasis,” which had what appeared to be three men who all looked the same, and each one of them was holding what appeared to be a globe.

From far away the image reminded me of a similar icon from the St. So I thought to myself, maybe that is what this represents? But why? Why would this be the main icon featured above the sanctuary? In the Coptic Church our center icon above the royal door is always the Mystical Supper of Christ.

But then I looked even closer at the icon and noticed that on each corner there was some sort of depiction-what appeared to be the four incorporeal beasts, who are depicted in Scripture as being around the throne of God. Immediately I felt certain that this was a depiction of God-the Holy Trinity!

I learned that in the service there were only 5 people “serving” the altar: 2 priests, and 3 deacons. Turns out in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (and remember, their inception and practices were derived from what they call their “mother” Church, the Coptic Church, over 1000 years ago) they really only have three roles among the diaconate: Reader, Subdeacon, Deacon.

In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, it is common, I am told, that most of the chanters who lead the congregation in the service are actually women. And instead of a bunch of young male children standing in the “Chorus” section of the church leading the congregation in worship, women chanters stand there and lead usually in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

I was also pleased to hear that in the priest service books available in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church today, there is a clear and frequent reference to the role of deaconesses.

I am told that underneath that altar covering is a miniature replica of the Ark of the Covenant, upon which the Mysteries lay during the service. The reason for this is that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has a long-held belief that the Ark of the Covenant is not lost as Indiana Jones would think it to be, but that in fact it resides in a chapel in Aksum, Ethiopia, heavily guarded for hundreds of years by a “succession of monks who, once anointed, are forbidden to set foot outside the chapel grounds until they die”.

When I saw the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s altar, I was astounded to see that it conformed more to the early Church rites than we currently maintain in the Coptic Church. Specifically, if you will notice, the altar base is surmounted by a canopy, also known as a ciborium (derived from a Greek word), which rests upon four pillars that stand at each corner of the altar.

What was additionally moving was that during the distribution of communion, the priest used a special shrouded “mini-altar” (my word, not his) and brought it outside for the congregants to partake in. This again reflected a practice that is in line with the traditional rite for the Mysteries to remain covered.

Traditionally in the Coptic Orthodox Church, the icon in the apse, or behind the altar, is one of the Apocolypse (derived from the Book of Revelation, or as it was traditionally known, the Apocalypse of John). You will notice that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is more in line with the Eastern Orthodox Church in having an image of the Theotokos behind the altar.

I love that in the Ethiopian Church, shoes are kept outside the entire church. Of course we all know that taking off shoes while in a holy place recalls what God told Moses when He appeared in the burning bush, requiring that Moses take off his shoes for he was standing on holy ground. Is not the entire church, from where the congregants stand to the sanctuary itself, holy?

Shortly after I walked into the church, I was handed one of these sticks. Upon inquiring, the priest quickly discarded my assumption and indicated this staff is actually meant to remind each congregant of the beatings that Christ took as He approached the moment of His crucifixion.

After the liturgy and my talk were over, I was invited to sit with the priests and deacons, along with some other fascinating gentlemen, and I was offered authentic Ethiopian food. All I could think was: WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?

They placed all the food on my plate and it was truly one of the best meals I’ve ever had, especially during the fast, and it was all vegan in accordance with fasting rites. Amazing!

Then there was the coffee. I was told by one of the priests that coffee really originated in Ethiopia and its name even is derived from the Ethiopian word for it. But this coffee, oh my goodness, was so amazingly smooth and plentifully tasty, with what appeared to be no sugar or any other additions.

But with the food came conversation, and the sad realization that this particular parish is one of the (if not THE) only parish in the entire Ethiopian Orthodox Church that is trying to incorporate English into its service on a regular basis. Apparently it is becoming a real problem for many of the Ethiopian youth in the land of immigration who do not feel connected to their church due to language barriers, where after high school they often just drift away unlikely to return to practicing their faith diligently.

Even though the Ethiopian Orthodox has been around in America for the same time as the... Ethiopian Orthodox Church (1959 - Present) - Religious GroupReligious Family: Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox)Religious Tradition: OrthodoxDescription: With worldwide estimated membership of about 36,000,000, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is the largest of the so-called Oriental Orthodox Churches (the others being Armenian, Coptic, Eritrean, Malankara-Indian, and Syriac).

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the US

Administratively, the Ethiopian Church was part of the Coptic Orthodox Church from the first half of the 4th century until 1959, when it was granted autocephaly (full independence) by the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church. In this same year, the first Ethiopian Orthodox parish was opened in the US: Holy Trinity Church in the Bronx, NY.

The 1974 Marxist revolution in Ethiopia not only overthrew the Emperor but also began a campaign against all religious groups in the country. After the collapse of the Communist government (1991), the head of Ethiopian Church, Patriarch Merkorios, was accused of collaboration with the former regime.

A number of other Ethiopian bishops joined him, which further intensified the spread of Ethiopian Orthodox churches in America. Eventually, the exiled group formed “The Legitimate Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church” with headquarters in Oakland, California - a Church body in opposition to the Synod of Bishops in Ethiopia.

For a number of years, Ethiopian Orthodox churches in America were divided between the two rival factions. This schism lasted until 2018, when delegations from both sides, along with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, met in Washington, DC.

An agreement was reached that provided for the return of Patriarch Merkorios to Ethiopia to become co-patriarch along with Patriarch Matthias (elected in Ethiopia in 2013). The two Patriarchs would be of equal dignity, and all the bishops of both Synods would be mutually recognized.

Presently, Ethiopian Orthodox churches in the USA are divided into five dioceses, and they continue to grow rapidly.

Key Facts About Kidist Mariam Church

Founded in 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Provides spiritual, cultural, and economic services to Ethiopian immigrants.
Committed to building a strong Orthodox community.
Offers various outreach programs to the community.

Kidist Mariam (St. Mary's) Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church is dedicated to meeting the spiritual, cultural, and economic needs of the thousands of Ethiopian immigrants living in the greater Atlanta area. It is deeply involved in community service, sponsoring programs in job training, youth education, family and financial counseling, and drug and gang prevention.

Mary's day, on the 21st of each month (using the Ethiopian calendar), as well as on major feasts to St. Michael. Marriages, baptisms, memorial services, prayers for the sick, and confession are frequently scheduled. every Sunday at a frequency of 1100 AM.