Kidist Mariam (St. Mary's) Ethiopian Orthodox churches play a vital role in meeting the spiritual, cultural, and economic needs of Ethiopian immigrants in the United States. These churches serve as sacred spaces where the diaspora can renew its spiritual and cultural identity. This article explores the history, community involvement, and liturgical practices of Kidist Mariam churches, highlighting their significance in preserving Ethiopian traditions in a foreign land.
Ethiopian Orthodox Priests
The Rise of DSK Mariam in Washington, D.C.
Re’ese Adbarat Debre Selam Kidist Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, commonly known as DSK Mariam Church, is a prominent Ethiopian Orthodox church in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1987, it aims to preach the Gospel of Christ, administer the Sacraments, and provide spiritual and social services to the community in accordance with the faith, teachings, and traditions of the Mother Church in Ethiopia.
With more than fifteen hundred registered members, Debre Selam Kidist Mariam Church is the largest of the Ethiopian Orthodox parish churches in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The church was registered with the IRS as a 501c3 organization and incorporated under D.C. law to receive its tax-exempt status.
After ten years of service in a rented hall, the church moved to its present location in 1997, occupying almost the whole block bounded by Arkansas, Buchanan, Alison, and 14th streets. The Board of Trustees, comprising 13 members elected every two years by the general membership, shapes policy and gives direction in keeping with the church’s mission.
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For many, DSK Mariam is more than a place of worship. In a city where the Ethiopian American population plays a vital role in civic, cultural, and economic life, churches like DSK Mariam offer grounding-a sacred space where the diaspora renews both its spiritual and cultural identity.
Young leaders actively help preserve the depth and symbolism of the tradition-from the netela symbolizing purity, to the censer’s incense representing the Virgin Mary, to the ancient practice of memorizing prayers as a form of spiritual continuity.
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Community Engagement and Services
Debre Selam has been faithfully fulfilling its mission for over three decades, baptizing thousands of infants, administering the sacrament of holy matrimony to hundreds of couples, and conducting memorial services. Holy Communion services are held every Sunday morning and on all major feast days. Morning and evening prayer services are conducted on designated days in the month and broadcast via live stream for those unable to attend in person.
The church places special focus on the spiritual and moral development of children, with over 500 children receiving religious instruction. These children are encouraged to learn Christian principles, study the history and traditions of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and acquire spiritual wisdom.
Debre Selam has also been a center for the Metropolitan Washington Clergy Association and various other committees established for religious and philanthropic activities. The church took the initiative to arrange the first-ever celebration of the Feast of the Finding of the True Cross in 2018, and in 2019, it successfully organized a two-day observance of the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, attended by over ten thousand people.
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Over the years, Debre Selam has been visited by many Archbishops and other church dignitaries from Ethiopia, helping them raise funds for their diocesan initiatives. The church also provides continuous financial assistance to traditional church schools and supports organizations like “Tserha Tsion Society” and “Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia”.
Kidist Mariam in Atlanta: A Story of Growth and Dedication
The Kidist Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral (St. Mary) in Atlanta was founded in 1987 by a small group of faithful Ethiopians and established as a nonprofit religious corporation in the state of Georgia. Initially, the church served its congregation in a chapel rented from Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Atlanta.
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 by upholding the centuries-old tradition and values of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The church aims to increase community awareness about the history, cultures, languages, and tradition of Ethiopia and provides services consistent with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church practices.
In 1995, the church purchased a building in Decatur, Georgia. At the same time, the church adopted a revised By-laws and the general assembly elected a Board of Trustees to administer the overall management of the Church.
As the congregation grew, the church acquired 5.5 acres of land to build bigger facilities. The construction was completed and blessed by His Holiness Abune Merkorios, Patriarch of Ethiopia, on August 29, 2009. The new Cathedral, located at 1152 South Stone Mountain Lithonia Rd., Lithonia, GA, became the largest and most traditionally built Ethiopian Orthodox Church ever constructed outside of Ethiopia.
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Flag of Ethiopia
Liturgical Practices and Church Atmosphere
Worshippers at Kidist Mariam show great reverence as they enter the church. Some cross themselves and bow even before coming inside, and many prostrate in silent prayer before the icons in the narthex. Everyone takes off his or her shoes before entering; the shoes are either left in the narthex or carried inside and placed beside one for the duration of the service.
The inside of the church is decorated in rich, red tones: a scarlet curtain stretches across the church, separating the altar from the nave, the carpet is a medium red, and burgundy curtains border the icons hanging on the left- and right-hand walls. On Sundays the pews are always full, and metal folding chairs are placed in the middle aisle to make room for more faithful. The women stand on the right, their heads covered; the men, many dressed in suits, stand on the left. All of the women and most of the men wear traditional white prayer shawls over their clothes.
The liturgy is conducted both in Ge'ez, a classical Ethiopian language that few understand, and in Amharic, the official language of modern Ethiopia. After about a two-and-a-half-hour liturgy, the people are seated, and the choir comes to the front of the church. The choir begins to sing lively hymns in Amharic, to the accompaniment of clapping.
During the liturgy proper, the only instrument used is a single handbell, rung to mark especially solemn moments in the service. During the songs after the liturgy, however, the atmosphere is less reserved. Two drums beat out a deep, loud rhythm, and the women raise their voices in shrill ululation. Sometimes this portion of the service includes traditional "liturgical dances," in which the choir members perform slow, rhythmic motions to accompany the hymns.
During all the songs, the choir and many of the people rock gently from side to side, their palms upturned in a traditional posture of prayer.
The Church and Its Role in Community Service
Kidist Mariam (St. Mary's) Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church is deeply involved in community service, sponsoring programs in job training, youth education, family and financial counseling, and drug and gang prevention. The church plans to offer classes in health promotion and disease prevention, anti-crime meetings, social and youth activities, English language training, educational and employment referrals, and senior citizens activities.
These services are available to the entire Ethiopian community and other interested individuals, regardless of faith commitment. The church is committed to building a strong orthodox community that promotes the teachings of Our Lord to love one another and that does not condone ethnicism, tribalism, and racism.
| Feature | DSK Mariam (Washington, D.C.) | Kidist Mariam (Atlanta) |
|---|---|---|
| Founding Year | 1987 | 1987 |
| Registered Members | Over 1500 | N/A |
| Location | Washington, D.C. | Lithonia, GA |
| Key Focus | Spiritual, social services, community engagement | Cultural preservation, community services |
Conclusion
Kidist Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox churches serve as cornerstones of the Ethiopian diaspora in the United States. Through their liturgical practices, community services, and commitment to preserving Ethiopian culture, these churches provide a vital link to the homeland and a source of spiritual nourishment for their congregations.
