Festival if Maryam Zion Nov 30th

Today, November 30th, Aksum hosts one of the Ethiopia's largest festivals, the Festival of Maryam Zion. The festival is held in Aksum, where thousands of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians make the pilgrimage to the Church of our Lady Mary of Zion. Why is the festival held in Aksum? Aksum is a city in northern Ethiopia which was the original capital of the eponymous kingdom of Axum. Axum is considered to be the holiest city in Ethiopia and is an important destination of pilgrimages and significant religious festivals. The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion is referred to as the oldest, and most significant church in Ethiopia. This was the traditional place where Ethiopian Emperors were crowned.  It also is the only church in the world to claim possession of the original Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments Tablets.