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The children's choir sings the closing song of the service at Debre B. St. Immanuel Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Layton - Walking into the nondenominational Clearfield Community Church on a recent Saturday was like being transported through space and time to the lovely, arid landscape of Ethiopia.

Floor-to-ceiling maroon drapes hung from wooden beams to encircle the altar, creating an inner sanctum where a dark-skinned, bearded priest repeated Bible verses in an unfamiliar language. For three hours, 13 barefoot, white-swathed men and women chanted, sang, prayed and listened while the priest celebrated the historic liturgy. In one moment, the women responded to the priest's directives with high-pitched trills while the smell of incense wafted through the pews of the Protestant church as a reminder of strangers in the building.

The Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahedo Church
- 45 million adherents.

- Considered one of the oldest Christian churches.

- One of six Oriental Orthodox churches.

- Split from Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches in the fifth century after the Council of Chalcedon debated the nature of Jesus Christ.

But it all felt familiar to members of Utah's tiny Debre B. St. Immanuel Ethiopian Orthodox Church, 30 families far from their East African homes. They are grateful to their Davis County hosts for allowing them to use and transform the building, but now that they have a permanent priest, they are appealing to the public to find a place closer to Salt Lake City, where most of the families live.

No matter how far they have to go, though, they say it is worth it. Worshipping together each week gives these Ethiopians a sense of belonging and continuity. They share information about jobs, they care for each other's children, learn English together and cry over every pain and loss.

"I like especially how they teach the kids to respect all people," says Surafield Betru, a machinist who came to the U.S. about seven years ago. "Going to church gives me a feeling of hope or having a focus for life."

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is one of several Oriental Orthodox faiths - Coptic, Syrian, Armenian, Eritrean and the (Indian) Malankara. It is said that Ethiopians were among the first to convert to Christianity, when Philip, an early apostle, baptized a eunuch in the African queen's court. Today, it has more than 40 million adherents, mostly in East Africa but rapidly being spread across the globe via refugees.

Though the Ethiopian liturgy resembles others in the Oriental Orthodox communion, the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition created a unique and authentically African spirituality through its monasteries, monks, and music.

Services are celebrated in Geez, an ancient church language, and Amharic, the current Ethiopian language. The lyrical chanting known as Zema was created by St. Yared, a sixth-century composer who used various biblical verses and rhythms to praise God. Such hymns are accompanied by deep drums, hand-clapping and reed shaking. Ecstatic dancing is part of every church festival, including Easter and Christmas, which is celebrated on Jan. 7.

For 250 days of the year, including every Wednesday and Friday, and 55 days during the Lenten season, Ethiopian Orthodox believers forgo food, water, meat, fat, eggs and milk until after 3 p.m.

Such fasting is a "unique way to harness your physical body so your spiritual life will dominate," says Dereje Shawl, an Ethiopian who owns The African Market in downtown Salt Lake City. "The church is a huge commitment. If you follow seriously, you give up most of your material life. You have to be generous and share your resources."

The Ethiopian church is important to these transplanted Africans because it connects them to their religion and culture, says Bishop Aba Markos, who oversees all Ethiopian Orthodox believers in the U.S. Western region.

"Believing in God is good," Markos says in broken English. "[Then our people] don't do bad things. Their lives will be successful. Without God, no [success] in America."

After Sunday services, the Ethiopians often break bread together, sharing dishes from their homeland. "Everybody's meeting that day," says Mimi Hados, a refugee who has lived in Utah for three years. "Everybody, my cousins and their kids. We are happy doing that. We would do it every day if we could."

If you are interested in helping the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, contact Dereje Shawl at 231-4120 or e-mail derejeks@isp.com. pstack@sltrib.com

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