Churches in Rural Ethiopia

St. George Ze’Arada Global Foundation is a legally registered chapter 501 (c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization in the United States established by the current members and former students of our Sunday school in the diaspora. Our mission is to support the overall activities of the Sunday School and assist its members at home with their social and professional endeavors. Here is a glimpse of ideas that the foundation aims to accomplish.

Members in the diaspora played a pivotal role in assisting the Sunday school financially for many decades. Whether for projects like building of the new multipurpose facility or for buying choir robes or books for the library, they’re always there to lend hands. With the extremely tiring lifestyle of the Western world, our members and former students try their very best to find time to gather virtually on the 23rd of each month (Ethiopian Calendar) to celebrate St. George. It is the top priority of this organization to continue connecting members of the diaspora using technology as a  means of communication. Monthly services are open for members, students and the faithful (upon request)

With the new housing projects around Addis, members and students who used to reside around the environs of the church had to move out and relocate to the suburban areas of Addis which makes it difficult for them to attend services regularly. As a result of this, the church misses a significant amount of alms from the regulars attendees as does the Sunday school.

We understand that without a consistent financial contribution from members and students, attaining goals set by the Sunday school each year is extremely difficult. Assisting our Sunday school in all of its services financially will be our primary mission.

In order to keep services going in the Sunday school, helping members in their personal, social and professional life is vital. This organization aims to assist those in need with scholarships, job driven training as well as material and financial support.

To accomplish all of these, the foundation relies on your unwavering support. Your generosity will not only change lives but also bring optimism for the disadvantaged and  bond a mystical union between brothers and sisters abroad with those at home.

St. George Cathedral’s Sunday School is one of the pioneers of higher Sunday School education in the country. The Gente Tsige youth association was established along with a few Sunday Schools around the city in the early years of 1940’s. After His Holiness Abba Tewophlos, the second Patriarch of Ethiopia started a systemized & centralized parish administration structure in the late 1970’s, our sunday school organized its resources and started teaching continuous sunday school education. In addition, our Sunday school assisted other Churches in Addis Ababa establish their Sunday school programs.

As the years went by, the number of students and members also grew tremendously. Although the large numbers are exhilarating, it also comes with it’s own challenges. The major problem was the lack of space for lecture rooms, libraries, children training center, rehearsal rooms and so forth.

Although there were stern financial challenges, due to the unity and hard work of former and present members of our Sunday school, we were able to lay a foundation stone of the new multipurpose building in September, 2007. His Holiness Abba Paulos, the fifth Patriarch of Ethiopia was present at the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Although we initially planned to complete the new building within four years, it took a little over eleven years to finish the three story multipurpose facility. The new building was inaugurated just last January,  2019 by His Holiness Abba Mathias I, the sixth Patriarch of Ethiopia.

The blood, sweat and tears our members poured into this project for the past eleven years is a testimony that St. George Sunday School is indeed a HOME where our hearts always continue to dwell. We specifically want to recognize our members at home for their resilience and utmost dedication to ensure this project was complete.

St. George Sunday school taught and continues to teach the holy gospel, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Dogma, Canons, Ge’ez (Ethiopic), Hymns of St. Yared and church musical instruments for thousands of believers throughout Ethiopia for a little over five decades.

St. George Cathedral is an impressive octagonal building ground broke in the late years of the 19th century by Emperor Menelik II to commemorate Ethiopia’s victory over the Italians at the battle of Adwa in 1896.  The cathedral is dedicated to St. George, patron saint of Ethiopia.

The cathedral is located in the heart of Addis Ababa, Capital of Ethiopia and is arguably the most architecturally profound church in Addis Ababa. The severe grey stone exterior in the neoclassical style belies the stunning colour and art found inside.  Greek, Armenian and Indian artists helped with the interior styles.  Sections of the ceiling glow sky-blue and boast gilded stars.  The outer walls of the innermost shrine are covered in paintings and mosaics by the late renowned Ethiopian Maitre Artist Afework Tekle.

In 1916 Empress Zewditu (Daughter of Emperor Menelik II) and in 1930  Emperor Haile Selassie I were both crowned at St. George Cathedral.

In the grounds just north of the cathedral is the museum. It is well presented and contains probably the best collection of ecclesiastical paraphernalia in the country outside St. Mary of Zion in Axum.  Items include beautiful crowns, golden processional crosses, prayer sticks, holy scrolls, ceremonial umbrellas and the coronation garb of Empress Zewditu and Haile Selassie. Please make sure to visit the cathedral on your next visit of Ethiopia.