Abune Mathias, 71, will be enthroned in the capital, Addis Ababa, on Sunday.

BBC: New leader of The Ethiopian Orthodox Church Abune Mathias

Even so, all this is a far cry from the hopes expressed by many when Benedict was enthroned in 2005.

ECONOMIST: Pope Benedict

For him, a statue of Zeus enthroned or Christ crucified would have been an impediment to belief, a mere lump of shaped matter.

ECONOMIST: History of ideas

His successor, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, was enthroned in March.

BBC: Church of England attendances 'stabilising'

The 57-year-old former oil industry executive, who was enthroned two weeks ago at Canterbury Cathedral, also talked about coping after the death of the eldest of his six children.

BBC: Archbishop warns against 'hero leader culture'

Engravings and inlays of silver and gold depict hunting and court scenes, animals real and make-believe, enthroned kings and courtiers and, unusually, the name of the basin's maker, "master Muhammad ibn al-Zayn may he be forgiven, " appears six times.

WSJ: Islamic Art at the Louvre | By Lee Lawrence