| Saint Stephen of the Abyssinians | |
| Native Name: | Italian: Santo Stefano degli Abissini |
| Mapframe: | yes |
| Mapframe-Caption: | Click on the map for a fullscreen view |
| Mapframe-Zoom: | 14 |
| Mapframe-Marker: | religious-christian |
| Coordinates: | 41.9018°N 12.4519°W |
| Location: | Vatican City, Rome, Italy |
| Denomination: | Eastern Catholic (Ethiopian Catholic Church) |
| Tradition: | Alexandrian (Coptic) Rite |
| Status: | national church of Ethiopia |
| Architectural Type: | Church |
| Groundbreaking: | 5th century or 8th century |
| Completed Date: | 9th century |
| Length: | 35m (115feet) |
| Width: | 20m (70feet) |
| Width Nave: | 10m (30feet) |
Saint Stephen of the Abyssinians (Italian: Santo Stefano degli Abissini) is an Ethiopian Catholic church located in the Vatican City. The church dedicated to Stephen the Protomartyr is the national church of Ethiopia. The liturgy is celebrated according to the Alexandrian rite of the Ethiopian Catholic Church. It is one of the only standing structures in the Vatican to survive the destruction of Old St. Peter's Basilica (c. 1505), and thus it is the oldest surviving church (in terms of architectural history) in Vatican City.
The church was, by tradition, built by Pope Leo I (ca. 400–461), and named Santo Stefano Maggiore.
In 1479, Pope Sixtus IV restored the church and assigned it to the Coptic Catholic monks in the city. It was at this time that the name was changed to reflect that it was served by Ethiopians (Abyssinians). Situated behind Saint Peter's Basilica, Santo Stefano had long been associated with the Ethiopian diaspora. To Italians, it was known as Santo Stefano dei Mori (Moors), degli Indiani (Indians), and degli Abissini. To Ethiopians, it was Däbrä Qeddus Esṭifanos (Amharic: ደብረ ቅዱስ እስጢፋኖስ), 'Monastery of Saint Stephen'; the church had been part of a monastery which was already in existence at the time of the constitutive synod called by Pope Gregory III in 732. The biography of Pope Hadrian I, 772-795 names the site as Latin: monasterium S. Stephani cata Barbara patricia situm ad S. Petrum apostolum 'monastery of Saint Stephen associated with the noblewoman Barbara located next to
It was altered under Pope Clement XI (1700–1721), and again in 1928.
The façade is in the style of the early 18th century. The 12th century doorway, decorated with the Lamb and the Cross, has been preserved.
The church has a single nave with ancient columns along the sides. The most important work of art is a fresco of the Madonna with Child in the Roman style from the 15th century.
The Feast of St. Stephen is celebrated on 26 December.