The article presents two from among Ethiopia’s most famous sacred sites: Debre Libanos and Zeqwala Abbo. At least twice a year, thousands of pilgrims arrive at those places. Established in the 13th century by Saint Tekle, the Haymanot monastery and the church of Debre Libanos are visited by Christians of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, while Mount Zeqwala attracts Christians as well as followers of the animist religion of the Oromo people.

Zeqwala Abbo has become a place to redefine

the term ‘pilgrimage’ by including a new element of

ecumenism into it. Essentially, it is a common progress

of people professing various religions in the same

direction at the same time, while individual rituals,

often of a syncretic character, are preserved.

This unique formula of pilgrimage results in cultures

and religions permeating one another, thus contributing

to their peaceful co-existence on the territory of Ethiopia.