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"ARE YOU NOT LIKE THE ETHIOPIANS TO ME, O PEOPLE OF ISRAEL?" (AMOS 9:7)
sheba.jpg
Queen Sheba & King Solomon

        Old Testament Ethiopia

            Ethiopia is the first African nation to appreciate and worship the One True God of Old Testament and adopted the Judaic element (1,000 B.C.). It was even said that the idea of worship of one God has been in existence earlier. This was confined to a limited number of families. Later this disappeared when a segment of the population strayed to all forms of worship.

          The worship of the true God was officially announced and established by Queen Makeda on her return from her historic visit to King Solomon at Jerusalem. This powerful Queen had managed to reign over parts of southern Arabia in Sabaea (Sheba), and because of this was titled, Queen of Axum and Sheba. Her long and strenuous journey to Palestine in Search of righteousness, was a symbol of great faith, and so our Lord Jesus Christ, over a thousand years later, spoke of her to the continuing generations, that she "shall rise up in the judgement with this generation and shall condemn it: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here" (Matt. 12:42). The Queen was then converted to the worship of the true God. Her conversion was the light she found in King Solomon's wisdom - the light who is God and therefore, greater than Solomon.

          Makeda stayed in Jerusalem for six months during which time her union with Solomon produced King Minelik I, who was born while she journeyed back to Ethiopia. She condemned other types of worship and introduced to her people the true light. About Makeda and her work, a wealth of information is to be found in the book of Kebre Negest (The Glory of Kings) from which most of this section is cited.

          The Kebre Negest, States that when Menelik grew up he visited his father in Jerusalem; and came back home accompanied by Azarias, the son of Zadok the high priest and many other Israelites carrying with them the Ark of the Covenant, and placed it in the St. Mary of Zion Church in Axum, which is the birthplace of the Ethiopian civilization. The Ethiopian Falasha in northern Ethiopia who practice after the Judaism formula to this day, are to be descendants of those who accompanied Menelik. From this point of view Judaism and paganism were in effect in Ethiopia. The later was short-lived while the former became a channel for direction and introduction towards Christianity.

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Covenant of Mercy

 
New Testament Ethiopia
 

          The country embraced Christianity and maintained the doctrine of Christ from the era of the Apostles to the present day, as it is narrated in (Acts 8:26-39). St. Luke assured us in his witness that the Ethiopian received the Good News first hand from St. Philip theEvangelist at the very beginning of the Christian era ( Acts 8:26-39). Therefore, it is believed that the Church in Ethiopia was inspired, preached, guided and consolidated, not by any means of the human power; but it was simply by the revealing power of the Holy Spirit!

 

          Christianity became the state religion of Ethiopia in the fourth century A.D. during the reign of Emperor Ezana, and his brother Shezana (often refered to in Ethiopia as Abraha and Atsbeha). This came about because of a shipwreck on the Red Sea coast, which stranded two brothers, Syrian Christians, Frumentius and Adesius. The two boys were captured by locals and taken to the court at Axum and presented to the reigning Emperor Ella Amida who took a liking to the boys. Due to their learning and hard work, they rose to positions of great trust and resposibility, Adesius becoming the Emperors cup bearer and official food taster, and Frumentius becoming the secretary of the monarch. However, the Emperor died suddenly, and the two brothers were free to return to Syria. Adesius did so, but the widowed Queen begged Frumentius to remain behind and help assist her with her regency, and to educate her son Ezana who was still a minor untill such time that he could assume the throne. Frumentius agreed to do so, and in this position of great power and responsibility was able to promote the spread of Christianity in the Empire, and even converted the young monarch himself to the faith.

 

          Once Ezana was of age, he asked Frumentius to go to Alexandria and approach the Patriarch of the Holy See of Saint Mark, to appoint a Bishop for Ethiopia. The Patriarch at the time was St. Athnatius, who when he met Frumentius, and heard his story, decided that the best person for the job was Frumentius himself. Frumentius returned to Ethiopia as the first Bishop with the title of Abune (Father) and the new name of Sellama. Abune Sellama (Father of Peace) was givin the honorific of Kisate Birhan by Ethiopians, which means "Begining of Light". Abune Sellama is also known as St. Frumentius of the Ethiopians, and is venerated as a Saint by all the Orthodox Churches and the Catholic church as well.

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