The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion claims to contain the original Ark of the Covenant.The Feast of the Ark of the Covenant (locally known as Tabote Tsion) is held in commemoration of different historical events including the coming of the Ark of the Covenant to Ethiopia and the construction of the first church dedicated to St. Mary in Axum. The Ark of the Covenant described as the original container for the Ten Commandments and the central symbol of God’s presence with the people of Israel. Its names convey the holy sense of God’s presence. 
The origin of the Ark goes back to Moses at Sinai. It was planned during Moses’ first sojourn on Sinai and built after all the tabernacle specifications had been communicated and completed. (Holman Bible Dictionary 1991),
After the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, God gave them the tablet of the Ten Commandments (Tabote Tsion) through Mosses in the mount of Sanai so they use it as a sacred instrument to worship God. The Ark was carried by the Israelites during their 40 years of journey to the land of hope. Whenever they camped, the Ark was placed in a special and sacred tent called the Tabernacle.