The Ancient Church of St. Mary holds the distinction of being the first Christian church in Sub-Saharan Africa, founded by the legendary twin kings Ezana and Saizana, also known locally as Abrha we Atsbeha. According to the Book of Aksum, the church was built on a site where a miraculous drying up of a former lake occurred, believed to be a divine act. Over centuries, the church faced destruction—first by the warrior queen Yodit (Gudit) in the 10th century, and later by the forces of Mohammed, known as the Left-Handed, in the 16th century. Despite these trials, the church remains a cornerstone of Ethiopia's rich Christian heritage.