About DSKM
Debre Selam Kidist Mariam Church
Re’ese Adbarat Debre Selam Kidist Mariam Church was founded in 1987 to preach the Gospel of Christ, administer the Sacraments and provide spiritual and social services to the community in Washington D.C. in accordance with the faith, teachings and traditions of the Mother Church in Ethiopia.
The establishment of Debre Selam was accomplished through the spiritually inspired initiative of Kehali Wondafferew whose vision was shared by his three friends namely, Altayewerq Berhaneselassie, Seifu Metaferia and Deacon Negusie Woldemariam. Under the sponsorship of these four divinely guided individuals, the church was registered with the IRS as a 501c3 organization and was incorporated under DC law to receive its tax-exempt status. After ten years of service in a rented hall, the church was able to move into its present location in 1997. The church now occupies almost the whole block bounded by Arkansas, Buchanan, Alison and 14th streets.
Serving Faithfully for 33 Years
The Board of Trustees, the governing body of the church comprising 13 members, is elected every two years by the general membership to shape policy and give direction in keeping with the church’s mission and to oversee the development and well-being of the Church. Appointed by the Board, the administrator is responsible for the day-to-day affairs of the church. A council of clergymen headed by the administrator is responsible for carrying out the spiritual functions of the church. Over a hundred members organized into more than ten committees provide crucial help in successfully executing the church’s objectives and annual proposals.
For the past thirty-three years, the church has been faithfully fulfilling its mission, baptizing thousands of infants, administering the sacrament of holy matrimony to hundreds of couples, and conducting memorial services for the repose of the dead in our community. Holy Communion services are held every Sunday morning and on all major feast days in the ecclesiastical calendar. Morning and evening prayer services are conducted on designated days in the month. Many of these services are broadcast via live stream, Face Book and You Tube for the benefit of members unable to leave their homes.
Educating the Young, Guiding the Community
Our Sunday School for adults has over a hundred students who regularly attend bible classes given by the church’s evangelism department. Special focus is placed on the spiritual and moral development of the children of our members. There are currently more than 500 children who receive religious instruction on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. These children are encouraged to learn the most important Christian principles, study the history and traditions of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and acquire spiritual and moral wisdom and discernment so that once they go off to college, they are well equipped to cope with the wider world and become responsible citizens as well as ambassadors for Christ.
In the past thirty-three years of its existence, Debre Selam has been a center for the Metropolitan Washington Clergy Association as well as various other committees and societies established for the purpose of engaging in religious and philanthropic activities. The leadership role it plays within the Metropolitan Washington Archdiocese is evidenced among other things by the initiative it took to arrange the first ever celebration of the Feast of the Finding of the True Cross in 2018. The event was the first of its kind both in terms of the large number of parish churches participating and the fact that we were able to obtain permission to light a bonfire in Rhino Park in Northwest Washington in keeping with the tradition and symbolism of the Feast. With God’s help and blessing we were again able in 2019 to successfully organize a two-day observance of the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus Christ. This event was attended by over ten thousand people from seventeen parish churches. Both events were presided over by our diocesan Archbishop Abune Fanuel and invited guests included the Ethiopian ambassador to the U.S. and representatives of Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Honoring Tradition, Serving Community, Inspiring Miracles
Over the past 33 years of its existence, Debre Selam has been visited by many Archbishops, archpriests and other church dignitaries from Ethiopia. We helped several of these fathers raise funds for their diocesan initiatives back home. Debre Selam has also been making continuous financial assistance to a select number of traditional church schools which are unfortunately declining due to lack of resources. Other religious and philanthropic organizations who benefited from the generosity of the Debre Selam congregation include, but are not limited to, “Tserha Tsion Society” and “Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia”.
Debre Selam Kidist Mariam Church is well known for being a spiritual center where devout believers’ prayers are heard and their wishes fulfilled. The highlight of the evening service on St. Mary’s Day each month is the testimony of people whose prayers have been answered and who have experienced their own personal miracles which they stand up to tell with tears and emotions.
Lastly, because of the extensive spiritual and social services it provides and the significant role it plays in community activities in our diocese, Debre Selam was elevated to the rank of “Re’ese Adbarat” or “Head Parochial Church” by Archbishops Abune Yesehaq and Abune Zena Markos who visited our church in 2001.
Re’ese Liqanat Abraham Habte-Sellassie
Church Administrator
Our Purpose: Spreading the Gospel
Our Purpose: Spreading the Gospel, Administering Sacraments, and Providing Spiritual and Social Services to the Community in Washington D.C. Our church, re’ese adbarat debre selam kidist mariam, was founded in 1987 to fulfill these noble objectives. With over 1500 registered members, we are the largest Ethiopian Orthodox parish in the Washington metropolitan area. Our vibrant community is dedicated to upholding the faith, teachings, and traditions of the mother church in Ethiopia.
Faith, Worship, and Community Together
Through our spiritually inspired initiatives, we have been faithfully fulfilling our mission for the past thirty-three years, playing a vital role in baptizing infants, administering the sacrament of holy matrimony, and conducting memorial services for the repose of the dead in our community. We hold regular worship services, morning and evening prayer services, and live stream many of these services for the benefit of members unable to leave their homes. Our dedicated council of clergymen and over a hundred members organized into more than ten committees provide crucial help in successfully executing our church’s objectives and annual proposals.