Church of St. Mary of Zion

The Church of St. Mary of Zion is one of the holiest and most significant churches in Ethiopia, located in the city of Axum in the northern part of the country. It is famously believed to house the Ark of the Covenant — the sacred artifact said to contain the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. The church serves as an important religious center for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and is a pilgrimage site for Christians across the country. Its architecture combines traditional Ethiopian elements with historical influences, and the church has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times throughout the centuries.