About Us

Debre Tsehay Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church was established on February 12, 2012, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the blessings of His Holiness Abune Merkorios, the late 4th Ethiopian Patriarch. Initially, we held services at a rental location at 1616 16th St NW, Washington, DC, until 2019.

 

By God’s continued grace, we were able to purchase our current property at 7705 Finns Lane, Lanham, MD 20706, on March 6, 2019. The property consists of three buildings: one designated for worship, another for the priest’s residence, and a third for storage. We are in the process of securing a permit for the construction of a new 3,700-square-foot church to accommodate our growing congregation. Our church has become a vital center of spiritual life for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christian community. Currently, we have approximately 120 active members, with weekly attendance ranging between 70 and 90.

 

Our Beliefs

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven, earth, and all things visible and invisible. We believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of the Father, who existed with Him before the world’s creation. He is Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father. By Him, all things were made, and without Him, nothing came into existence. For our salvation, He descended from heaven, was made man through the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. He was crucified, died, was buried, and on the third day, He rose again as written in the Holy Scriptures. He ascended into heaven in glory, sat at the right hand of the Father, and will return to judge the living and the dead, with an eternal reign. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, proceeding from the Father, worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son. We believe in the one, holy, universal, and apostolic Church, in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and in the resurrection of the dead and the life to come, world without end. Amen.

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Our Services

• Divine Liturgy
  The Divine Liturgy is a sacred prayer service, a glimpse of heaven on earth, during which the bread and wine are transformed into the flesh and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (John 6:43-59). This is a central part of our worship, known as Holy Communion.

• Baptism
  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…” (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV). Baptism is a vital sacrament of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, signifying entry into the faith and the family of God.

• Confession
  Confession is a sacred process in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church where believers come before a priest or spiritual advisor to seek forgiveness and spiritual renewal. Through self-examination, repentance, and absolution, our faithful experience the mercy of God and restore their relationship with Him.

• Holy Communion
  Our Holy Communion services provide spiritual nourishment through the Eucharist. Led by our clergy, these services allow the faithful to connect with the divine, embracing the teachings and traditions of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo faith.

• Holy Matrimony
  Marriage is a sacred sacrament, and our church honors this holy union. Guided by our clergy, couples embark on a spiritual journey as they commit to each other and receive the blessings of the Church and community.

• Wake Service
  The wake service is a solemn tradition that honors the departed. It brings the church community together to support grieving families, offering prayers and comfort before the funeral or burial.

 

Service Hours

• Sundays:

  • Worship Services: 5:00 AM - 9:00 AM

  • Choir Service: 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

  • Sermon: 9:15 AM - 10:00 AM

  • Youth Fellowship: 9:15 AM - 9:55 AM

  • Closing of Worship Services: 9:55 AM - 10:00 AM

• Refreshments: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Saturdays: Youth Fellowship & Divine Liturgy Study for Future Deacons: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Extended to Wednesdays during the summer)

• Fridays: Divine Liturgy Study for Future Deacons (via Zoom): 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Coming soon)

• 12th Day of Each Ethiopian Calendar Month: St. Michael’s Day (Special Religious Observance): 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Join us as we worship, learn, and grow in faith together.