My beautiful Tewahedo Orthodox sister, before we even step into the church, there is a small but deeply meaningful act we are called to do—we remove our shoes.
This is not just a tradition; it is a reflection of our reverence for God. In the Tewahedo Orthodox faith, the church is not an ordinary place. It is holy ground—a sacred space where we come before the presence of God with humility, awe, and respect.
This practice is rooted in Scripture, when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush:
“Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5, NKJV)
In that moment, Moses recognized the holiness of God and responded with deep reverence. In the same way, we are called to approach the house of God with that same humility and awareness of His presence.
Removing our shoes is an outward expression of an inward posture. It reminds us to leave behind not only the dust of the world on our feet, but also the distractions, pride, and burdens in our hearts. We step into the church with purity, respect, and a readiness to worship.
My sister, never see this as just a routine act. See it as a sacred moment, a quiet preparation of your heart before entering into communion with God.
May we always approach His house with reverence, humility, and love, remembering that we are standing on holy ground.
Selam Seyoum