About

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. It has thousands of years of history and therefore very sacred and important to Ethiopia because it not only serves as a symbol of Christianity but also as a cornerstone of Ethiopian culture. As the faith has stood for thousands of centuries the church has served as the repository of the Christian faith and traditions based on the Bible (Old and New Testaments) and has enabled each generation to inherit the faith of Christianity as taught by the Holy Spirit. This includes the transmission of the spiritual teachings of Christianity, the values that arise from them and the Sacred Calendar of the Church together with the Ge’ez Alphabet.

The acceptance of the New Testament in 34 AD by the Church through the means of the Ethiopian chamberlain Bacchus marks the beginning of the continuous history of the Church as a Christian organisation. Through the means of saints, monasteries, holy places and worship with its own liturgy and chants the Church has continued to this day to proclaim Christ and call people to discipleship, and to be the source of a spiritual life of hope and expectation of the Kingdom of God.

Today the mission of the Church has gone beyond the boundaries of Ethiopia and is carrying out its mission for the benefit of the whole of the worldwide Orthodox Church. In today’s world the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is carrying out its mission for the benefit of Orthodox Christians in Europe and other foreign countries by strengthening their faith, by defending their traditions and by promoting unity in the Holy Spirit.

Debre Tsige St. Urael Church is one of the church locations involved in our global mission work. The church is part of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Diocese of the United Kingdom and Ireland, Northwestern Europe region. Debre Tsige St. Urael Church is located in Tyne and Wear, UK and serves the Orthodox Christian community of Newcastle upon Tyne and beyond by providing a sacred space for worship, spiritual guidance and fellowship through divine liturgies, counsel and fellowship.