History Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

1 history

1.1 origins
1.2 middle ages
1.3 jesuit interim
1.4 recent history

history
origins

ethiopian orthodox icon depicting st. george, crucifixion, , virgin mary

many traditions claim christian teachings introduced region after pentecost. john chrysostom speaks of ethiopians present in jerusalem being able understand preaching of saint peter in acts, 2:38. possible missions of of apostles in lands called ethiopia reported 4th century. socrates of constantinople includes ethiopia in list 1 of regions preached matthew apostle, specific mention of ethiopia south of caspian sea can confirmed in traditions such roman catholic church among others. ethiopian church tradition tells bartholomew accompanied matthew in mission lasted @ least 3 months. paintings depicting these missions available in church of st. matthew found in province of pisa, in northern italy portrayed francesco trevisan (it) (1650-1740) , marco benefial (1688-1764).

the earliest account of ethiopian converted faith in new testament books royal official baptized philip evangelist (distinct philip apostle), 1 of 7 deacons (acts, 8:26–27):

then angel of lord said philip, start out , go south road leads down jerusalem gaza. set out , on way when caught sight of ethiopian. man eunuch, high official of kandake (candace) queen of ethiopia in charge of treasure. (acts, 8:26–27)

holy trinity cathedral, addis ababa

the passage continues describing how philip helped ethiopian treasurer understand passage book of isaiah ethiopian reading. after philip interpreted passage prophecy referring jesus christ, ethiopian requested philip baptize him, , philip did so. ethiopic version of verse reads hendeke (ህንደኬ); queen gersamot hendeke vii queen of ethiopia c. 42 52. possibility of gospel missions ethiopian eunuch cannot directly inferred books of new testament, irenaeus of lyons around 180 ad writes simon backos preached news in homeland outlining theme of preaching being coming in flesh of 1 god preached before. same kind of witness shared 3rd , 4th century writers such eusebius of caesarea , origen of alexandria.

coin of king ezana, under whom oriental orthodox christianity became established church of kingdom of aksum

oriental orthodox christianity became established church of ethiopian axumite kingdom under king ezana in 4th century when priesthood , sacraments brought first time through syrian greek named frumentius, known local population in ethiopia abba selama, kesaté birhan ( father of peace, revealer of light ). youth, frumentius had been shipwrecked brother aedesius on eritrean coast. brothers managed brought royal court, rose positions of influence , baptized emperor ezana.

ezana sent frumentius alexandria ask patriarch, st. athanasius, appoint bishop ethiopia. athanasius appointed frumentius, returned ethiopia bishop name of abune selama. on, until 1959, pope of alexandria, patriarch of africa, named egyptian (a copt) abuna or archbishop of ethiopian church.

middle ages

late 17th century portrait of abba giyorgis baselyos

union coptic orthodox church continued after arab conquest of egypt. abu saleh records in 12th century patriarch sent letters twice year kings of abyssinia (ethiopia) , nubia, until al hakim stopped practice. cyril, 67th patriarch, sent severus bishop, orders put down polygamy , enforce observance of canonical consecration churches. these examples show close relations of 2 churches throughout middle ages.

in 1439, in reign of zara yaqob, religious discussion between abba giyorgis , french visitor led dispatch of embassy ethiopia vatican.

jesuit interim

icon of abuna samuel of waldebba, 15th-century ethiopian monk , ascetic of ethiopian orthodox church.

the period of jesuit influence, broke connection egypt, began new chapter in church history. initiative in roman catholic missions ethiopia taken, not rome, portugal, in course of conflict muslim ottoman empire , sultanate of adal command of trade route india via red sea.

in 1507 matthew, or matheus, armenian, had been sent ethiopian envoy portugal ask aid against adal sultanate. in 1520 embassy under dom rodrigo de lima landed in ethiopia (by time adal had been remobilized under ahmad ibn ibrihim al-ghazi). interesting account of portuguese mission, lasted several years, written francisco Álvares, chaplain.

later, ignatius loyola wished take task of conversion, forbidden so. instead, pope sent out joão nunes barreto patriarch of east indies, andre de oviedo bishop; , goa envoys went ethiopia, followed oviedo himself, secure king s adherence rome. after repeated failures measure of success achieved under emperor susenyos i, not until 1624 did emperor make formal submission pope. susenyos made roman catholicism official state religion, met heavy resistance subjects , authorities of ethiopian orthodox church, , had abdicate in 1632 in favour of son, fasilides, promptly restored ethiopian orthodox christianity state religion. in 1633 expelled jesuits, , in 1665 fasilides ordered jesuit books (the books of franks) burned.

recent history

engraving of abuna salama iii, head of ethiopian orthodox tewahedo church (1841-1867)

in more modern times, ethiopian church experienced series of developments. earliest in 19th century publication of amharic translation of bible. largely work of abu rumi on ten years in cairo, version, changes, held sway until emperor haile selassie ordered new translation appeared in 1960/1. haile selassie played prominent role in further reforms of church, included encouraging distribution of abu rumi s translation throughout ethiopia, promotion of improved education of clergy, significant step in emperor s effort being founding of theological college of holy trinity church in december 1944. third development came after haile selassie s restoration ethiopia, when issued, on 30 november, decree number 2 of 1942, new law reforming church. primary objectives of decree put finances of church in order, create central fund activities, , set forth requirements appointment of clergy—which had been lax until then.

the coptic , ethiopian churches reached agreement on 13 july 1948, led autocephaly ethiopian church. 5 bishops consecrated coptic pope of alexandria , patriarch of africa, empowered elect new patriarch church, , successor abuna qerellos iv have power consecrate new bishops. promotion completed when coptic orthodox pope joseph ii consecrated ethiopian-born archbishop, abuna basilios, 14 january 1951. in 1959, pope cyril vi of alexandria crowned abuna basilios first patriarch of ethiopia.

an ethiopian orthodox priest displays processional crosses.

patriarch abune basilios died in 1971, , succeeded year patriarch abune tewophilos. fall of emperor haile selassie in 1974, ethiopian orthodox tewahedo church disestablished state church. new marxist government began nationalising property (including land) owned church. patriarch abune tewophilos arrested in 1976 marxist derg military junta, , secretly executed in 1979. government ordered church elect new patriarch, , abune takla haymanot enthroned. coptic orthodox church refused recognize election , enthronement of abune tekle haymanot on grounds synod of ethiopian church had not removed abune tewophilos , government had not publicly acknowledged death, , still legitimate patriarch of ethiopia. formal relations between 2 churches halted, although remained in communion each other. formal relations between 2 churches resumed on july 13, 2007.

abuna paulos, late patriarch of ethiopian orthodox tewahedo church.

patriarch abune tekle haymanot proved less accommodating derg regime had expected, , when patriarch died in 1988, new patriarch closer ties regime sought. archbishop of gondar, member of derg-era ethiopian parliament, elected , enthroned patriarch abuna merkorios. following fall of derg regime in 1991, , coming power of eprdf government, patriarch abune merkorios abdicated under public , governmental pressure. church elected new patriarch, abune paulos, recognized coptic orthodox pope of alexandria. former patriarch abune merkorios fled abroad, , announced exile abdication had been made under duress , still legitimate patriarch of ethiopia. several bishops went exile , formed break-away alternate synod. exiled synod recognized ethiopian churches in north america , europe recognize patriarch abune merkorios, while synod inside ethiopia continued uphold legitimacy of patriarch abune paulos.

following independence of eritrea nation in 1993, coptic orthodox church in 1994 appointed archbishop eritrean orthodox tewahedo church, in turn obtained autocephaly in 1998 reluctant approval of mother synod. same year first eritrean patriarch consecrated.

as of 2005, there many ethiopian orthodox churches located throughout united states , other countries ethiopians have migrated (archbishop yesehaq 1997). church claims more 38 million members in ethiopia, forming half country s population.

patriarch abune paulos died on august 16, 2012, followed 4 days later prime minister meles zenawi. on february 28, 2013, college of electors assembled in addis ababa , elected abune mathias 6th patriarch of ethiopian orthodox church.