Final answer:
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church does not have a 'pope' but has its own Patriarch. It was administered by bishops appointed by the Coptic Church until the 20th century. The first Ethiopian Patriarch was Abuna Basilios, enthroned in the early 1950s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church does not have a pope in the same sense as the Roman Catholic Church. The term 'pope' is primarily associated with the Bishop of Rome, who is the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Instead, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which has a deep historical connection to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, has its own Patriarch. The Ethiopian Church was led by Coptic appointed Bishops until the 20th century when it began appointing its own Patriarch. In the history of Christianity in Ethiopia, Frumentius was consecrated as the first bishop of the Ethiopian Church which marked the beginning of structured Christian leadership within the kingdom.
Christianity spread to Ethiopia in the early fourth century, through the missionary efforts of Frumentius, and became the country's state religion in 330 CE. The title of Patriarch for the Ethiopian Church was first used in the early 1950s when Abuna Basilios was elevated to this status, marking a significant moment in the independence of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Prior to this, the Church was under the administration of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. It's important to understand that the religious history of Ethiopia is marked not by the presence of a pope but by significant religious figures like bishops and later on its own Patriarchs.
Notably, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, like its Egyptian counterpart, follows a unique calendar that differs from the Gregorian calendar used by most of the Western world. Ethiopia's rich religious history also incorporates indigenous beliefs and asserts ties to the Ark of the Covenant. Furthermore, it has weathered various historical challenges, including invasions and religious conflicts, while steadfastly maintaining its traditions.