Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church
ቤተ ክርስትያን ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ትግራይ
Bet'ə K'rstian Orthodox Tewahədo Tigray
Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion Cathedral in Axum, the seat of the Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church
AbbreviationTOTC
ClassificationOriental Orthodox
OrientationIndependent Oriental Orthodox, Orthodox Tewahedo
ScriptureOrthodox Tewahedo Bible
TheologyMiaphysitism
PolityEpiscopal
PrimateVacant
RegionTigray and Tigrayan diaspora
HeadquartersChurch of Our Lady Mary of Zion, Axum, Tigray
FounderThe Apostle and Evangelist Mark in 42 AD Alexandria, Saint Frumentius in 328 AD Axum (according to the Tigrayan Orthodox tradition)
IndependenceFrom the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in 2022. Not officially recognized in the broader Orthodox community.

The Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church is one of the Oriental Orthodox Churches with its headquarters in Axum, Tigray Region. It declared autocephaly on 7 May 2021, due to the alleged involvement of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in war crimes against the Tigray, and for being too closely aligned with the Ethiopian government. The archbishops of the Diocese of Tigray announced the establishment of the Synod of the Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, based on their previously codified “Church Law” after a three-day meeting from October 21 to 23, 2024. Although there is declaration of autocephaly, the church has not been officially granted an autocephalous status from the officially recognized Oriental Orthodox Churches as of 2024.