Since its founding during the episcopacy of
Frumentius, the first Bishop of Axum, (known in Ethiopia as
Abune Selama Kesatie Birhan or "Our Father of Peace the Revealer of Light"), the Church of Mary of Zion has been destroyed and rebuilt at least once, or twice as according to tradition. Its first putative destruction occurred at the hands of Queen
Gudit during the 10th century, although this isn't ascertained by historiography. Its second, and first confirmed, destruction occurred in the 16th century at the hands of
Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, after which it was rebuilt by the Emperor
Gelawdewos, then further rebuilt and enlarged by
Fasilides during the 17th century.
Francisco Álvares, who was in Ethiopia before its destruction, describes it as follows: The church of Saint Mary of Zion was the traditional place where
Ethiopian Emperors came to be crowned. Which indeed meant if an Emperor was not crowned at Axum, or did not at least have his coronation ratified by a special service at St. Mary of Zion, he could not be referred to by the title of "Atse". The church is a significant center of
pilgrimage for the
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, especially during the “Festival of Zion Mariam” on 30 November (21 Hidar on the
Ethiopian calendar).
Tigray War In mid-December 2020 during the
Tigray War, according to
Europe External Programme with Africa (EEPA), 750 people who were hiding in the church were
brought out and killed by militants. Locals suspected an intention to steal the Ark of the Covenant, but no evidence of that allegation has been found to date. A more recent report by
Amnesty International points to war crimes committed by Eritrean troops in and around Aksum, and
de facto desacralisation of the church, but these reports have not been confirmed by independent investigation or by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. The Ethiopian government has blocked forensic investigators from accessing the church grounds, and also blocked all external attempts at investigating human rights violations that occurred both at the church and in Axum. The
International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) has called for the Ethiopian government to "provide unhindered access to the ICHREE and other independent investigative bodies, alongside independent media, to thoroughly examine these allegations of human rights violations", but as of August 2023 the government continues to block independent investigation. == Ark of the Covenant ==