The Role of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Sustaining Faith, Community, and Cultural Identity among the Ethiopian Diaspora in Finland: A Case Study of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Rekolaa Koivukula
This study examines the experiences of members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Koivukylä, Finland, with particular attention to the Church’s role within the Ethiopian diaspora community. Guided by Avery Dulles’ Models of the Church, the research employs field observations and semi-structured questionnaires, drawing on responses from six participants. The findings indicate that the Church functions as a multidimensional institution encompassing spiritual, social, cultural, psychological, and moral dimensions. Participants experience the Church as a spiritual home, a source of belonging, a center for cultural preservation, and a support system that addresses the challenges associated with migration and diasporic life. The study further demonstrates how multiple ecclesiological models—including the Church as Institution, Sacrament, Mystical Communion, Servant, and Community of Disciples—intersect and operate within the diaspora context. In doing so, the research argues that the Church functions as a vital “diaspora survival system,” thereby extending and recontextualizing established ecclesiological frameworks. Additionally, the study contributes to broader debates on religion in Europe by highlighting the continued vitality of religious life within migrant communities despite prevailing secularization trends. It concludes that, while the Church effectively sustains communal identity and social cohesion, its long-term sustainability may depend on its ability to balance the preservation of tradition with contextual adaptation to contemporary diasporic realities.
Publisert i 2026
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