The Ark of the Covenant

In Axum the original Ark of the Covenant is aid to be housed in a well-guarded chapel of the Church of St. Mary of Zion. A replica or symbol of the Ark of the Covenant, known as Tabot, occupies ride of place in the holy of holies of every Ethiopian Orthodox Church. These replicas – which derive their sanctity from their relationship to the true and original Ark still believed by Ethiopians to be kept at Axum – are so important that no church is considered consecrated with out one. The Ark was previously held in an older Church on an island in Lake Tana where it remained for 800 years before being moved to Axum’s original St. Mary of Zion Chapel.