An old Ethiopian Orthodox priest holds a large brass Coptic cross at the rock-hewn church of Adadi Maryam, just south of Addis Abeba. This is the southernmost of Ethiopia's rock-hewn churches. Ethiopia is Africa's oldest Christian nation where more than half the population follows the Ethiopian Orthodox faith. Central to the religious beliefs of this 1,000-year-old religion is a special veneration of Saints Michael and George. They admit seven sacraments, pay homage to the Virgin Mary and other saints, and respect the resurrection, the last judgement and other features of the Roman church.