Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

===Architecture===
[[File:Bet Giyorgis church Lalibela 01.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Church of Saint George, Lalibela|Church of Saint George]], a monolithic church in Lalibela]]
There are many [[monolithic church|monolithic (rock-hewn) church]]es in Ethiopia, most famously eleven churches at [[Lalibela]]. Besides 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 an example of the basilican design, though the early basilicas are nearly all in ruin. These examples show the influence of the architects who, in the 6th century, built the basilicas at [[Sanaá|Sanʻāʼ]] and elsewhere in the [[Arabian Peninsula]]. There are two forms of native churches: one oblong, traditionally found in [[Tigray Region|Tigray]]; the other circular, traditionally found in [[Amhara Region|Amhara]] and [[Shewa]] (though either style may be found elsewhere). In both forms, the sanctuary is square and stands clear in the centre, and the arrangements are based on [[Judaism|Jewish]] tradition. Walls and ceilings are adorned with [[fresco]]es. 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 [[Thatching|thatched]], with mud-built walls. The church buildings are typically surrounded by a [[Church forests of Ethiopia|forested area]], acting as a reservoir of biodiversity in otherwise de-forested parts of the country.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Abbott |first1=Alison |title=Biodiversity thrives in Ethiopia's church forests |url=https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-019-00275-x/index.html |access-date=31 January 2019 |work=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]}}</ref><ref name=emergence>{{Cite news|url=https://emergencemagazine.org/feature/the-church-forests-of-ethiopia/|title=The Church Forests of Ethiopia: A Mystical Geography|first=Fred|last=Bahnson|date=January 11, 2020|website=Emergence Magazine}}</ref>{{sfn|Butler|1911|p=96}}