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125-490: According to a 2004 report, Bonke had 32 kilometers of all-weather roads and 7 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 49 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 159,089, of whom 79,113 are men and 79,976 women; 6,347 or 3.99% of its population are urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants were Protestants , with 55.32% of

250-633: A forested area , acting as a reservoir of biodiversity in otherwise de-forested parts of the country. The Ethiopian Church claims that one of its churches, Our Lady Mary of Zion , is host to the original Ark of the Covenant that Moses carried with the Israelites during the Exodus . Only one priest is allowed into the building where the Ark is located, ostensibly due to biblical warnings of danger. As

375-424: A scribe or cantor . But often he is also a folk healer, who may also function in roles comparable to a deacon or exorcist . Folklore and legends ascribe the role of magician to the debtera as well. The music of Ethiopian Orthodox Church traced back to Saint Yared , who composed Zema or "chant", which divided into three modes: Ge'ez (ordinary days), Ezel (fast days and Lent) and Araray (principal feasts). It

500-527: A "monster, born and educated for the destruction of the church". Theodosius, by now old enough to hold power by himself, annulled the verdict of the Council and arrested Cyril, but Cyril eventually escaped. Having fled to Egypt, Cyril bribed Theodosius's courtiers, and sent a mob led by Dalmatius , a hermit , to besiege Theodosius's palace, and shout abuse; the emperor eventually gave in, sending Nestorius into minor exile (Upper Egypt). Cyril died about 444, but

625-535: A 2010 Pew Research Center study, 74% of Christians in Ethiopia report having experienced or witnessed an exorcism. Demon-possessed persons are brought to a church or prayer meeting. Often, when an ill person has not responded to modern medical treatment, the affliction is attributed to demons. Unusual or especially perverse deeds, particularly when performed in public, are symptomatic of a demoniac. Superhuman strength—such as breaking one's bindings, as described in

750-719: A church outside the authority of the Roman Catholic papacy" as it was "an ancient church with direct ties to the apostles". According to Daniels, Martin Luther saw that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church practiced elements of faith including " communion under both kinds , vernacular Scriptures, and married clergy" and these practices became customary in the Lutheran churches . The Ethiopian church also rejected papal supremacy , purgatory and indulgences , which

875-755: A college of electors assembled in Addis Ababa and elected Mathias to be the 6th Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. On 25 July 2018, delegates from the Patriarchate in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and those in the United States, declared reunification in Washington, D.C. Declaring the end of a 26-year-old schism, the church announced that it acknowledges two Patriarchs, Merkorios, Fourth Patriarch of Ethiopia and Mathias I, Sixth Patriarch and Catholicos of Ethiopia, Archbishop of Axum and Ichege of

1000-518: A controversy between Theophilus (Cyril's uncle) and the " Tall Brothers "; the monks assaulted Orestes and accused him of being a pagan. Orestes rejected the accusations, showing that he had been baptised by the Archbishop of Constantinople. A monk named Ammonius threw a stone hitting Orestes in the head. The prefect had Ammonius tortured to death, whereupon the Patriarch allegedly honored him as

1125-525: A letter to the Egyptian monks warning them of Nestorius's views. A copy of this letter reached Constantinople where Nestorius preached a sermon against it. This began a series of letters between Cyril and Nestorius which gradually became more strident in tone. Finally, Emperor Theodosius II convoked the Council of Ephesus (in 431) to solve the dispute. Cyril selected Ephesus as the venue since it supported

1250-678: A martyr. However, at least according to Scholasticus, the Christian community displayed a general lack of enthusiasm for Ammonius's case for martyrdom. The prefect then wrote to the emperor Theodosius II , as did Cyril. The Prefect Orestes enjoyed the political backing of Hypatia , an astronomer, philosopher and mathematician who had considerable moral authority in the city of Alexandria, and who had extensive influence. Indeed, many students from wealthy and influential families came to Alexandria purposely to study privately with Hypatia , and many of these later attained high posts in government and

1375-765: A nationwide protest was postponed. Abune Petros , the Secretary of the Holy Synod announced that the demonstration would be postponed following peaceful talks with the Prime Minister and a government agreement to solve the problem. On 15 February, the Church reached an agreement with the illegally ordinated synod. The government lifted the internet ban after five months on 17 July. The faith and practice of Orthodox Ethiopian Christians include elements from Miaphysite Christianity as it has developed in Ethiopia over

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1500-481: A new Patriarch, Paulos , who was recognized by the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria. The former Merkorios then fled abroad, and announced from exile that his abdication had been made under duress and thus he was still the legitimate Patriarch of Ethiopia. Several bishops also went into exile and formed a break-away alternate synod. The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church was granted autocephaly from

1625-723: A new chapter in church history. The initiative in Roman Catholic missions to Ethiopia was taken not by Rome , but by Portugal , in the course of a conflict with the Muslim Ottoman Empire and the Sultanate of Adal for the command of the trade route to India via the Red Sea . In 1507, Mateus , or Matthew, an Armenian , had been sent as an Ethiopian envoy to Portugal. In 1520, an embassy under Dom Rodrigo de Lima landed in Ethiopia. An interesting account of

1750-411: A result, international scholars doubt that the original Ark is truly there. Throughout Ethiopia, Orthodox churches are not considered churches until the local bishop gives them a tabot , a replica of the original Ark of the Covenant. The tabot is at least six inches (15 cm) square, and it is made of either alabaster , marble , or wood (see acacia ). It is always kept in ornate coverings on

1875-506: A river is to be found. The Ethiopian Church, like other Oriental Orthodox churches places a heavier emphasis on Old Testament teachings than one might find in many Eastern Orthodox , Roman Catholic or Protestant churches. Women are prohibited from entering the church temple during menses ; they are also expected to cover their hair with a large scarf (or shash ) while in church, as described in 1 Corinthians, chapter 11. As with Orthodox synagogues , men and women sit separately in

2000-511: A series of letters to various ecclesiastical authorities in which he espoused the orthodoxy of "Theotokos". The propriety of the term was justified through appeals to earlier theologians who had used it, like Athanasius , the Cappadocians , and Atticus . Following an epistolary exchange with the increasingly unpopular archbishop of Constantinople, in 430 Cyril wrote his famous 12 Anathemas in which anyone who refused to call Mary Theotokos

2125-715: A significant step in the Emperor's effort being the founding of the Theological College of the Holy Trinity Church in December 1944. A third development came after Haile Selassie's restoration to Ethiopia, when he issued, on 30 November, Decree Number 2 of 1942, a new law reforming the church. The primary objectives of this decree were to put the finances of the church in order, to create a central fund for its activities, and to set forth requirements for

2250-413: A similar story. Even later historian Byzantinist Fr. Adrian Fortescue , says that the mob of Christian Parabalanies and Peter, cruelly tore her to pieces on the steps of a church. Damascius adds that they also cut out her eyeballs. They tore her body into pieces and dragged her limbs through the town to a place called Cinarion, where they set them on fire. According to Watts, this was in line with

2375-613: A site called Beta Samati . This is the earliest known physical evidence of a church in sub-Saharan Africa. Union with the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria continued after the Arab conquest of Egypt . Abu Saleh records in the 12th century that the patriarch always sent letters twice a year to the kings of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and Nubia , until Al Hakim stopped the practice. Cyril , 67th patriarch, sent Severus as bishop, with orders to put down polygamy and to enforce

2500-523: A theatre. This order had two aims: one to quell the riot, the other to mark Orestes' authority over Cyril. Socrates Scholasticus recounts that upon hearing of Hierex's severe and public punishment, Cyril threatened to retaliate against the Jews of Alexandria with "the utmost severities" if the harassment of Christians did not cease immediately. In response to Cyril's threat, the Jews of Alexandria grew even more furious, eventually resorting to violence against

2625-495: A youth, Frumentius had been shipwrecked with his brother Aedesius on the Eritrean coast. The brothers managed to be brought to the royal court, where they rose to positions of influence and baptized Emperor Ezana . Frumentius is also believed to have established the first monastery in Ethiopia, named Dabba Selama after him. In 2016, archaeologists excavated a 4th-century AD basilica (radio-carbon dated) in northeastern Ethiopia at

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2750-594: Is consubstantial with God the Father . Around 500 bishops within the patriarchates of Alexandria , Antioch , and Jerusalem refused to accept the dyophysitism (two natures) doctrine decreed by the Council of Chalcedon in 451, an incident that resulted in the second major split in the main body of the Catholic-Orthodox Church in the Roman Empire . Tewahedo ( Ge'ez : ተዋሕዶ täwaḥədo )

2875-490: Is a Ge'ez word meaning "being made one" or "unified". This word refers to the Oriental Orthodox belief in the one composite unified nature of Christ ; i.e., a belief that a complete, natural union of the divine and human natures into one is self-evident to accomplish the divine salvation of humankind. This is in contrast to the "two natures of Christ" belief (unmixed, but unseparated divine and human natures, called

3000-650: Is a good creed, that is, faith". In addition, Martin Luther stated that the Lutheran Mass agreed with that used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. As a result, Luther invited the Ethiopian church and Michael to full fellowship. In more modern times, the Ethiopian Church has experienced a series of developments. The 19th century witnessed the publication of an Amharic translation of the Bible. Largely

3125-621: Is an example of the basilican design, though the early basilicas are nearly all in ruin. These examples show the influence of the architects who, in the 6th century, built the basilicas at Sanʻāʼ and elsewhere in the Arabian Peninsula . There are two forms of native churches: one oblong, traditionally found in Tigray ; the other circular, traditionally found in Amhara and Shewa (though either style may be found elsewhere). In both forms,

3250-529: Is commanded in no other name than the name of Jesus." The Old Testament Books: The New Testament Books: The divine services of the Ethiopian Church are celebrated in Geʽez , which has been the liturgical language of the church at least since the arrival of the Nine Saints (Pantelewon, Gerima (Isaac, or Yeshaq), Aftse, Guba, Alef, Yem’ata, Liqanos, and Sehma), who are believed to have fled persecution by

3375-674: Is counted among the Church Fathers and also as a Doctor of the Church , and his reputation within the Christian world has resulted in his titles Pillar of Faith and Seal of all the Fathers . The Nestorian bishops at their synod at the Council of Ephesus declared him a heretic, labelling him as a "monster, born and educated for the destruction of the church". Cyril is well known for his dispute with Nestorius and his supporter, Patriarch John of Antioch , whom Cyril excluded from

3500-531: Is eaten by the faithful. During the 40-day Advent fast, only one vegan meal is allowed per day. In addition to standard holy days, most Christians observe many saints' days. A man might give a small feast on his personal saint's day. The local voluntary association (called the maheber ) connected with each church honours its patron saint with a special service and a feast two or three times a year. Priests intervene and perform exorcisms on behalf of those believed to be afflicted by demons or buda . According to

3625-508: Is given only to those who feel pure, have fasted regularly, and have, in general, properly conducted themselves. In practice, communion is mainly limited to young children and the elderly; those who are at a sexually active age or who have sexual desires generally do not receive the Eucharist. Worshipers receiving communion may enter the middle ring of the church to do so. Ethiopian Orthodox believers are strict Trinitarians , maintaining

3750-466: Is important to Ethiopian liturgy and divided into fourteen Anaphoras, the normal use being of the Twelve Apostles. In ancient times, there were six Anaphoras used by many monasteries. Since 1959, when the church was granted autocephaly by Cyril VI , Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria , an Ethiopian Patriarch-Catholicos of Eritrea also carrying the title of Abuna is the head of

3875-831: Is in communion with the other Oriental Orthodox churches (the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church , the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria , the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church , the Armenian Apostolic Church , and the Syriac Orthodox Church ). The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church had been administratively part of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria from the first half of the 4th century until 1959, when it

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4000-510: Is offering prayer before a holy God. Ethiopian Orthodox worshippers remove their shoes when entering a church temple, in accordance with Exodus 3:5 (in which Moses , while viewing the burning bush , was commanded to remove his shoes while standing on holy ground). Furthermore, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is known to observe the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday, or the lesser Sabbath), in addition to

4125-528: Is shared by 3rd and 4th century writers such as Eusebius of Caesarea and Origen of Alexandria . Early Christianity became the established church of the Ethiopian Axumite Kingdom under king Ezana in the 4th century when priesthood and the sacraments were brought for the first time through a Syrian Greek named Frumentius , known by the local population in Ethiopia as "Selama, Kesaté Birhan" ("Father of Peace, Revealer of Light"). As

4250-575: Is the foremost expression of Cyril's devotion to Mary, and is one of the first historical attestations of the salutation Χαῖρε ("Hail") being used to invoke the Virgin, a practice later standardised in Byzantine homiletics and hymnography such as the sermons of Chrysippus and Basil of Selecucia , and the Akathist hymn . Mary, who is credited with calling the council fathers together, embodies for Cyril

4375-768: Is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches . One of the few Christian churches in sub-Saharan Africa originating before European colonization of the continent, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church dates back to the Christianization of the Kingdom of Aksum in 330 , and has between 36 million and 51 million adherents in Ethiopia . It is a founding member of the World Council of Churches . The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

4500-635: The Alexandrian and Antiochian schools of ecclesiastical reflection, piety, and discourse. This long running conflict widened with the third canon of the First Council of Constantinople which granted the see of Constantinople primacy over the older sees of Alexandria and Antioch. Thus, the struggle between the sees of Alexandria and Antioch now included Constantinople. The conflict came to a head in 428 after Nestorius , who originated in Antioch,

4625-566: The Byzantine Empire after the Council of Chalcedon (451). The Greek Septuagint was the version of the Old Testament originally translated into Ge'ez, but later revisions show clear evidence of the use of Hebrew , Syriac and Arabic sources. The first translation into a modern vernacular was done in the 19th century by a man usually known as Abu Rumi (died 1819). Later, Haile Selassie sponsored Amharic translations of

4750-487: The Cappadocian Fathers created a climate wherein intellectual argumentation over disputed theology overlapped with blossoming lay piety. When the Council of Ephesus convened under Cyril's presidency it did so in the newly constructed Church of Mary , a venue that contributed to the devotional matrix of the debates. Whereas in the past scholars have often argued that Marian piety and theology only developed in

4875-514: The Council of Ephesus for arriving late. He is also known for his expulsion of Novatians and Jews from Alexandria and for inflaming tensions that led to the murder of the Hellenistic philosopher Hypatia by a Christian mob. Historians disagree over the extent of his responsibility in this. Cyril tried to oblige the pious Christian emperor Theodosius II (AD 408–450) to himself by dedicating his Paschal table to him. Cyril's Paschal table

5000-562: The Didascalia . The nature of the Sabbath only became a doctrinal dispute in the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria in the centuries leading up to the issue being rectified by Ewostatewos . The emperor Gelawdewos in his Confession , an apologia of traditional beliefs and practices explicitly says "we do not honour it as the Jews do... but we so honour it that we celebrate thereon the Eucharist and have love-feasts, even as our Fathers

5125-472: The Diocese of Egypt , steadfastly resisted Cyril's ecclesiastical encroachment upon secular prerogatives. Tension between the parties increased when in 415, Orestes published an edict that outlined new regulations regarding mime shows and dancing exhibitions in the city, which attracted large crowds and were commonly prone to civil disorder of varying degrees. Crowds gathered to read the edict shortly after it

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5250-584: The Kandake (Candace) Queen of Ethiopia in charge of all her treasure. (Acts, 8:26–27) The passage continues by describing how Philip helped the Ethiopian treasurer understand a passage from the Book of Isaiah that the Ethiopian was reading. After Philip interpreted the passage as prophecy referring to Jesus Christ , the Ethiopian requested that Philip baptize him, and Philip did so. The Ethiopic version of this verse reads "Hendeke" (ህንደኬ); Queen Gersamot Hendeke VII

5375-794: The Lord's Day (Sunday, or the Christian Sabbath), although more emphasis, because of the Resurrection of Christ, is laid upon Sunday. While the Ethiopian Church is known for this practice, it is neither an innovation nor unique to it, deriving from the Apostolic Constitutions and the Apostolic Canons the former of which without the Apostolic Canons included is in the church's 81-book canon as

5500-478: The New Testament , or Həggä Wongel (ሕገ ወንጌል). A hierarchy of K'ədusan ቅዱሳን (angelic messengers and saints) conveys the prayers of the faithful to God and carries out the divine will, so when an Ethiopian Christian is in difficulty, he or she appeals to them as well as to God. In more formal and regular rituals, priests communicate on behalf of the community, and only priests may enter the inner sanctum of

5625-557: The Roman Catholic Church among others. Ethiopian Church tradition tells that Bartholomew accompanied Matthew in a mission which lasted for at least three months. Paintings depicting these missions can be seen in the Church of St. Matthew found in the Province of Pisa , in northern Italy portrayed by Francesco Trevisan (1650–1740) and Marco Benefial (1688–1764). The earliest account of an Ethiopian converted to

5750-652: The hypostatic union ) which is held by the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church . The Oriental Orthodox Churches are known as " non-Chalcedonian ", and, sometimes by outsiders as " monophysite " (meaning "One Single Nature", in allusion to Jesus Christ). However, these churches themselves describe their Christology as miaphysite , meaning "one united nature" about Jesus (the Greek equivalent of "Tewahedo"). John Chrysostom speaks of

5875-521: The miaphysite slogan "One Nature united out of two" being used to encapsulate the theological position of this Alexandrian bishop. According to Cyril's theology, there were two states for the Son of God: the state that existed prior to the Son (or Word/Logos) becoming enfleshed in the person of Jesus and the state that actually became enfleshed. The Logos Incarnate suffered and died on the Cross, and therefore

6000-406: The parabalani from Cyril's power and instead place them under the authority of Orestes. The edict restricted the parabalani from attending "any public spectacle whatever" or entering "the meeting place of a municipal council or a courtroom." It also severely restricted their recruitment by limiting the total number of parabalani to no more than five hundred. Another major conflict was between

6125-473: The state church . The new Marxist government began nationalizing property (including land) owned by the church. Tewophilos was arrested in 1976 by the Marxist Derg military junta , and secretly executed in 1979. The government ordered the church to elect a new Patriarch, and Takla Haymanot was enthroned. The Coptic Orthodox Church refused to recognize the election and enthronement of Tekle Haymanot on

6250-735: The "Ethiopians present in Jerusalem" as being able to understand the preaching of Peter in Acts , 2:38. Possible missions of some of the Apostles in the lands now called Ethiopia is also reported as early as the 4th century. Socrates of Constantinople includes Ethiopia in his list as one of the regions preached by Matthew the Apostle , where a specific mention of "Ethiopia south of the Caspian Sea" can be confirmed in some traditions such as

6375-452: The "classical (Alexandrian) 19-year lunar cycle" would emerge a century later in Rome as the basic structure of Dionysius Exiguus ’ Paschal table (AD 525). The Catholic Church did not commemorate Saint Cyril in the Tridentine calendar : it added his feast only in 1882, assigning to it the date of 9 February. This date is used by the Western Rite Orthodox Church . Yet the 1969 Catholic Calendar revision moved it to 27 June, considered to be

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6500-461: The Alexandrians were always rioting. Thus, Cyril followed his uncle in a position that had become powerful and influential, rivalling that of the prefect in a time of turmoil and frequently violent conflict between the cosmopolitan city's pagan , Jewish , and Christian inhabitants. He began to exert his authority by causing the churches of the Novatianists to be closed and their sacred vessels to be seized. Orestes , Praefectus augustalis of

6625-442: The Apostles have taught us in the Didascalia". The Ethiopian Church does not call for circumcision, yet it is a cultural practice, as is abstention from pork and other meats deemed unclean. It is not regarded as being necessary to salvation. The liturgy explicitly mentions, "let us not be circumcised like the Jews." The Ethiopian Orthodox Church observes days of ritual purification . People who are ritually unclean may approach

6750-453: The Archbishop, drafted a long list of largely unfounded accusations against Chrysostom, who refused to recognize the legality of a synod in which his open enemies were judges. Chrysostom was subsequently deposed. Theophilus died on 15 October 412, and Cyril was made Pope or Patriarch of Alexandria on 18 October 412, but only after a riot between his supporters and those of his rival Archdeacon Timotheus. According to Socrates Scholasticus ,

6875-446: The Article 11 of the FDRE Constitution . On 4 February, three people were reportedly killed in Shashemene by the Oromia Special Forces . According Tewahedo Media Center (TMC), two Orthodox youth were killed and four others were injured by the Oromo Special Forces. Abune Henok, Archbishop of Addis Ababa Diocese described it as "shameful and heart-wrenching". In response to grievance, numerous celebrities expressed their solidarity to

7000-493: The Blind , and writers of the Church of Alexandria . He received the formal Christian education standard for his day: he studied grammar from age twelve to fourteen (390–392), rhetoric and humanities from fifteen to twenty (393–397) and finally theology and biblical studies (398–402). In 403, he accompanied his uncle to attend the " Synod of the Oak " in Constantinople, which deposed John Chrysostom as Archbishop of Constantinople. The prior year, Theophilus had been summoned by

7125-444: The Christian murder of Hypatia is the sole historical source naming Bishop Cyril. Some modern studies, as well as the 2009 Hypatia biopic Agora represent Hypatia as falling casualty to a conflict between two Christian factions, one peaceful and moderate and led by Orestes, with the support of Hypatia, and fundamentalist faction enforced by Parabalani and led by Patriarch Cyril. According to lexicographer William Smith , "She

7250-552: The Christian season of Lent in March 415, a mob of Christians under the leadership of a lector named Peter, raided Hypatia's carriage as she was travelling home. They dragged her into a building known as the Kaisarion , a former pagan temple and center of the Roman imperial cult in Alexandria that had been converted into a Christian church. There, the mob stripped Hypatia naked and murdered her using ostraka , which can either be translated as " roof tiles " or " oyster shells ". Later historian John of Nikiû also tells

7375-451: The Christians. They plotted to flush the Christians out at night by running through the streets claiming that the Church of Alexander was on fire. When Christians responded to what they were led to believe was the burning down of their church, "the Jews immediately fell upon and slew them" by using rings to recognize one another in the dark and killing everyone else in sight. When the morning came, Cyril, along with many of his followers, took to

7500-406: The Church he wrote several exegetical documents. Among these were: Commentaries on the Old Testament , Thesaurus , Discourse Against Arians , Commentary on St. John's Gospel , and Dialogues on the Trinity . In 429 as the Christological controversies increased, the output of his writings was so extensive that his opponents could not match it. His writings and his theology have remained central to

7625-422: The Church via social media and other platforms and donned black clothing during three-days Fast of Nineveh . On 9 February, the government imposed restrictions on social sites targeted to Facebook , Messenger , Telegram and TikTok . On the next day, the delegation of Synod held an urgent meeting with Abiy at his office, which resulted in condemnation of the proclaimed Oromia Synod from Abiy. On 12 February,

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7750-436: The Church. Several Christians thought that Hypatia's influence had caused Orestes to reject all conciliatory offerings by Cyril. Modern historians think that Orestes had cultivated his relationship with Hypatia to strengthen a bond with the pagan community of Alexandria, as he had done with the Jewish one, in order to better manage the tumultuous political life of the Egyptian capital. According to Socrates Scholasticus during

7875-424: The Derg regime than it had expected, and so when the patriarch died in 1988, a new patriarch with closer ties to the regime was sought. The Archbishop of Gondar , a member of the Derg-era Ethiopian Parliament, was elected and enthroned as Abuna Merkorios . Following the fall of the Derg regime in 1991, and the coming to power of the EPRDF government, Merkorios abdicated under public pressure. The church then elected

8000-455: The Ethiopian Orthodox Church on 28 September 1993 following ratification by Coptic church Patriarch Shenouda III . The schism has met opposition from dissent that saw it as a disintegration of Ethiopia's spiritual heritage. As of 2005, there are many Ethiopian Orthodox churches located throughout the United States and other countries to which Ethiopians have migrated (Archbishop Yesehaq 1997). Paulos died on 16 August 2012. On 28 February 2013,

8125-737: The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The Abuna is officially known as Patriarch and Catholicos of Ethiopia, Archbishop of Axum and Ichege of the See of Saint Taklahaimanot . The incumbent head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is Mathias who acceded to this position on 28 February 2013. Ethiopia: Cyril of Alexandria Autocephaly recognized by some autocephalous Churches de jure : Autocephaly and canonicity recognized by Constantinople and 3 other autocephalous Churches: Spiritual independence recognized by Georgian Orthodox Church: Semi-Autonomous: Cyril of Alexandria ( Ancient Greek : Κύριλλος Ἀλεξανδρείας ; Coptic : Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲗⲗⲟⲩ ⲁ̅ or ⲡⲓ̀ⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ Ⲕⲓⲣⲓⲗⲗⲟⲥ; c.  376–444)

8250-408: The Ethiopian church, with men on the left and women on the right (when facing the altar). (Women covering their heads and separation of the sexes in churches officially is common to few other Christian traditions; it is also the rule in some non-Christian religions, Islam and Orthodox Judaism among them). Before praying, the Ethiopian Orthodox remove their shoes in order to acknowledge that one

8375-422: The Ge'ez Scriptures during his reign (1930–1974): one in 1935 before World War II and one afterwards (1960–1961). Sermons today are usually delivered in the local language. There are many monolithic (rock-hewn) churches in Ethiopia, most famously eleven churches at Lalibela . Besides these, two main types of architecture are found—one basilican , the other native. The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion at Axum

8500-418: The Gospels, which he interpreted to indicate that the religious authority of Cyril would require Orestes' acquiescence in the bishop's policy. Nevertheless, Orestes remained unmoved by such gestures. This refusal almost cost Orestes his life. Nitrian monks came from the desert and instigated a riot against Orestes among the population of Alexandria. These monks had resorted to violence 15 years before, during

8625-418: The Holy Trinity consists of a singular divine nature, essence, and being ( ousia ) in three distinct aspects, instantiations, or subsistencies of being ( hypostases ). These distinct hypostases are the Father, the Son or Word ( Logos ), and the Holy Spirit. His christology is a topic of debate. He taught of "μία φύσις τοῦ θεοῦ λόγου σεσαρκωμένη", meaning "one physis of the Word of God made flesh". This resulted in

8750-502: The Jews, however many, "Orestes [...] was filled with great indignation at these transactions, and was excessively grieved that a city of such magnitude should have been suddenly bereft of so large a portion of its population." Because of this, the feud between Cyril and Orestes intensified, and both men wrote to the emperor regarding the situation. Eventually, Cyril attempted to reach out to Orestes through several peace overtures, including attempted mediation and, when that failed, showed him

8875-407: The Lutherans disagreed with, and thus for Luther, the Ethiopian church was the "true forerunner of Protestantism ". Luther believed that the Ethiopian church kept true apostolic practices which the Lutherans would adopt through reading the scriptures. In 1534, a cleric of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Michael the Deacon , met with Martin Luther and affirmed the Augsburg Confession , saying "This

9000-529: The New Testament accounts—along with glossolalia are observed in the afflicted. Amsalu Geleta, in a modern case study, relates elements that are common to Ethiopian Christian exorcisms: It includes singing praise and victory songs, reading from the Scripture, prayer and confronting the spirit in the name of Jesus. Dialogue with the spirit is another important part of the exorcism ceremony. It helps

9125-723: The Orthodox teaching that God is united in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This concept is known as səllase (ሥላሴ), Ge'ez for "Trinity". Daily services constitute only a small part of an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian's religious observance. Several holy days require prolonged services, singing and dancing, and feasting. An important religious requirement, however, is the keeping of fast days, during which adherents abstain from consuming meat and animal products, and refrain from sexual activity. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has 250 fasting days, 180 of which are obligatory for laypeople, not just monks and priests, when vegan food

9250-593: The Portuguese mission, which lasted for several years, was written by Francisco Álvares , its chaplain. Later, Ignatius Loyola wished to take up the task of conversion, but was forbidden to do so. Instead, the pope sent out João Nunes Barreto as patriarch of the East Indies, with Andre de Oviedo as bishop; and from Goa envoys went to Ethiopia, followed by Oviedo himself, to secure the king's adherence to Rome. After repeated failures some measure of success

9375-659: The See of Saint Taklehaimanot. On 22 January 2023, an attempt to overthrow Abune Mathias was failed following a secret formation of new 26-made bishop Synod led by Abune Sawiros in Oromia Region diocese, such as in Haro Beale Wold Church in Woliso , and nine bishops of diocese outside the region. The Patriarchate called it an "illegal appointment", where Abune Mathias decried it as "great event that has targeted

9500-648: The Son was able to suffer without suffering. Cyril passionately argued for the continuity of a single subject, God the Word, from the pre-Incarnate state to the Incarnate state. The divine Logos was really present in the flesh and in the world—not merely bestowed upon, semantically affixed to, or morally associated with the man Jesus, as the adoptionists and, he believed, Nestorius had taught. Cyril of Alexandria became noted in Church history because of his spirited fight for

9625-579: The Word of God incarnate" (μία φύσις τοῦ θεοῦ λόγου σεσαρκωμένη) and a hypostatic union (ἕνωσις καθ' ὑπόστασιν, henōsis kath hypostasis ). The distinction of this stance was that the incarnate Christ has one nature, but that one nature is of the two natures, divine and human, and retains all the characteristics of both after the union. Miaphysitism holds that in the one person of Jesus Christ , divinity and humanity are united in one (μία, mia ) nature (φύσις - " physis ") without separation, without confusion, without alteration and without mixing where Christ

9750-417: The actions of the mob, declaring, "Surely nothing can be farther from the spirit of Christianity than the allowance of massacres, fights, and transactions of that sort." Neoplatonist historian Damascius ( c.  458 – c.  538) was "anxious to exploit the scandal of Hypatia's death", and attributed responsibility for her murder to Bishop Cyril and his Christian followers. Damascius's account of

9875-466: The altar. Only priests are allowed to see or touch the tabot . In an elaborate procession, the tabot is carried around the outside of the church amid joyful song on the feast day of that particular church's namesake. On the great Feast of T'imk'et , known as Epiphany or Theophany in Europe, a group of churches send their tabot to celebrate the occasion at a common location where a pool of water or

10000-506: The appointment of clergy—which had been fairly lax until then. The Coptic and Ethiopian churches reached an agreement on 13 July 1948, that led to autocephaly for the Ethiopian Church. Five bishops were immediately consecrated by the Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa, empowered to elect a new patriarch for their church, and the successor to Qerellos IV would have the power to consecrate new bishops. This promotion

10125-614: The centuries. Christian beliefs include belief in God (in Ge'ez / Amharic, ′Egziabeher , lit. "Lord of the Universe"), veneration of the Virgin Mary, the angels, and the saints, besides others. According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church itself, there are no non-Christian elements in the religion other than those from the Old Testament , or Həggä 'Orät (ሕገ ኦሪት), to which are added those from

10250-542: The church but are not permitted to enter it; they instead stand near the church door and pray during the liturgy. Rugare Rukuni and Erna Oliver identify the Nine Saints as Jewish Christians , and attribute the Judaic character of Ethiopian Christianity, in part, to their influence. A debtera is an itinerant lay priest figure (not a member of the priesthood) trained by the Ethiopian Church to function principally as

10375-434: The church". After not apologising for the illegal ordination, three Archbishops were excommunicated by the Holy Synod on 26 January. On 31 January 2023, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed convened a discussion surrounding the incident where he responded he is ready to resolve the conflict. The speech led backlash from the Holy Synod and accused his government of meddling in the Church in reference to separation of church and state in

10500-482: The city (Orestes wanted him banished). One could deduce from this that there were some who didn't think Cyril responsible for this or that even his own followers thought he went too far. However, according to Damascius , Cyril himself allegedly only managed to escape even more serious punishment by bribing one of Theodosius's officials. Indeed, the investigation resulted in the emperors Honorius and Theodosius II issuing an edict in autumn of 416, which attempted to remove

10625-463: The city's synagogues in search of the perpetrators of the massacre. According to Socrates, after Cyril rounded up all the Jews in Alexandria he ordered them to be stripped of all possessions, banished them from Alexandria, and allowed their goods to be pillaged by the remaining citizens of Alexandria. Scholasticus alleges that all the Jews of Alexandria were banished, while John of Nikiû says it

10750-533: The controversies were to continue for decades, from the "Robber Synod" of Ephesus (449) to the Council of Chalcedon (451) and beyond. Cyril regarded the embodiment of God in the person of Jesus Christ to be so mystically powerful that it spread out from the body of the God-man into the rest of the race, to reconstitute human nature into a graced and deified condition of the saints, one that promised immortality and transfiguration to believers. Nestorius , on

10875-402: The counsellor (exorcist) to know how the spirit was operating in the life of the demoniac. The signs and events mentioned by the spirit are affirmed by the victim after deliverance. The exorcism is not always successful, and Geleta notes another instance in which the usual methods were unsuccessful, and the demons apparently left the subject at a later time. In any event, "in all cases the spirit

11000-496: The day of the saint's death, as celebrated by the Coptic Orthodox Church . The same date has been chosen for the Lutheran calendar. The Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic Churches celebrate his feast day on 9 June and also, together with Pope Athanasius I of Alexandria , on 18 January. Cyril is remembered in the Church of England with a commemoration on 27 June. Little is known for certain of Cyril's early life. He

11125-450: The distinct "Jesus the man" and "the divine Logos " in ways that Cyril thought were too dichotomous , widening the ontological gap between man and God in a way that some of his contemporaries believed would annihilate the person of Christ. The main issue that prompted this dispute between Cyril and Nestorius was the question which arose at the Council of Constantinople: What exactly was the being to which Mary gave birth? Cyril affirmed that

11250-605: The divine salvation of mankind, as opposed to the " two natures of Christ " belief commonly held by the Latin and Eastern Catholic , Eastern Orthodox , Anglican , Lutheran , and most other Protestant churches . The Oriental Orthodox Churches adhere to a miaphysite Christological view followed by Cyril of Alexandria , the leading protagonist in the Christological debates of the 4th and 5th centuries, who advocated "mia physis tou Theo logou sesarkōmenē", or "one (mia) nature of

11375-520: The emperor to Constantinople to apologize before a synod , over which Chrysostom would preside, on account of several charges which were brought against him by certain Egyptian monks. Theophilus had them persecuted as Origenists . Placing himself at the head of soldiers and armed servants, Theophilus had marched against the monks, burned their dwellings, and ill-treated those whom he captured. Theophilus arrived at Constantinople with twenty-nine of his suffragan bishops, and conferring with those opposed to

11500-523: The faith in the New Testament books is a royal official baptized by Philip the Evangelist (distinct from Philip the Apostle ), one of the seven deacons (Acts, 8:26–27): Then the angel of the Lord said to Philip, Start out and go south to the road that leads down from Jerusalem to Gaza. So he set out and was on his way when he caught sight of an Ethiopian . This man was a eunuch, a high official of

11625-489: The grounds that the Synod of the Ethiopian Church had not removed Tewophilos and that the government had not publicly acknowledged his death, and he was thus still the legitimate Patriarch of Ethiopia. Formal relations between the two churches were halted, although they remained in communion with each other. Formal relations between the two churches resumed on July 13, 2007. Tekle Haymanot proved to be much less accommodating to

11750-435: The issue of the suffering of Christ. Cyril maintained that the Son of God or the divine Word, truly suffered "in the flesh." However, Nestorius claimed that the Son of God was altogether incapable of suffering, even within his union with the flesh. Eusebius of Dorylaeum went so far as to accuse Nestorius of adoptionism . By this time, news of the controversy in the capital had reached Alexandria. At Easter 429 A.D., Cyril wrote

11875-513: The observance of canonical consecration for all churches. These examples show the close relations of the two churches throughout the Middle Ages . In 1439, in the reign of Zara Yaqob , a religious discussion between Giyorgis and a French visitor led to the dispatch of an embassy from Ethiopia to the Vatican . The period of Jesuit influence, which broke the connection with Egypt, began

12000-475: The other hand, saw the incarnation as primarily a moral and ethical example to the faithful, to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Cyril's constant stress was on the simple idea that it was God who walked the streets of Nazareth (hence Mary was Theotokos , meaning "God bearer", which became in Latin "Mater Dei or Dei Genitrix", or Mother of God), and God who had appeared in a transfigured humanity. Nestorius spoke of

12125-414: The paradoxes of orthodox Christology, "container of the uncontained" and "the place for the infinite", among other lauded descriptions. Cyril's notions of the identity of Christ, therefore, have direct bearing on the identity of Mary. Wessell explains how "Cyril's spatial metaphors construed Mary as a sacred place" and how he "applied metaphors depicting royalty and exaltation to Mary: she was the treasure of

12250-557: The population reporting that belief, 27.18% practiced traditional beliefs, and 15.55% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity . The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 109,441 of whom 55,246 were men and 54,195 were women; 2,452 or 2.24% of its population were urban dwellers. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Bonke were the Gamo (97.99%), and the Amhara (1.53%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.48% of

12375-706: The population. Gamo is spoken as a first language by 94.49%, 3.17% Zergulla , and 1.09% spoke Amharic ; the remaining 1.25% spoke all other primary languages reported. 5°55′N 37°15′E  /  5.917°N 37.250°E  / 5.917; 37.250 This article about a location in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church ( Amharic : የኢትዮጵያ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ቤተ ክርስቲያን , romanized :  Yä-ityopp'ya ortodoks täwahədo betä krəstiyan )

12500-511: The priest. Rather than repudiating the priest, Nestorius intervened on his behalf. Nestorius argued that Mary was neither a "Mother of Man" nor " Mother of God " as these referred to Christ's two natures ; rather, Mary was the "Mother of Christ" (Greek: Christotokos ). Christ, according to Nestorius, was the conjunction of the Godhead with his "temple" (which Nestorius was fond of calling his human nature). The controversy seemed to be centered on

12625-500: The sanctuary is square and stands clear in the centre, and the arrangements are based on Jewish tradition. Walls and ceilings are adorned with frescoes . A courtyard , circular or rectangular, surrounds the body of the church. Modern Ethiopian churches may incorporate the basilican or native styles and use contemporary construction techniques and materials. In rural areas, the church and outer court are often thatched , with mud-built walls. The church buildings are typically surrounded by

12750-514: The standard of Christological fidelity in Cyril's theology; Nestorius's denial of "Theotokos" became the identifiable sign of his impugning of the divinity of Jesus. St. Cyril received an important recognition of his preachings by the Second Council of Constantinople (553 d.C.) which declared; Cyril was a scholarly archbishop and a prolific writer. In the early years of his active life in

12875-713: The state religion. He then in 1633 expelled the Jesuits, and in 1665 Fasilides ordered that all Jesuit books (the Books of the Franks) be burned. David Daniels has suggested that the Ethiopian Church has had a stronger impact on the Reformation than most scholars acknowledge. For Martin Luther , who spearheaded the Reformation , Daniels says "the Ethiopian Church conferred legitimacy on Luther's emerging Protestant vision of

13000-625: The title " Theotokos " during the First Council of Ephesus (431), establishing the ecclesiastically settled basis for all subsequent mariological developments. Prior to the controversy over the theology of Nestorius , Cyril rarely if ever used the Mariological title, but theo-political circumstances compelled him as Archbishop of one of the Empire's chief sees, to become involved and develop his theology." Beginning in 429 Cyril wrote

13125-499: The traditional manner in which Alexandrians carried the bodies of the "vilest criminals" outside the city limits to cremate them as a way of symbolically purifying the city. Although Socrates Scholasticus never explicitly identifies Hypatia's murderers, they are commonly assumed to have been members of the parabalani . Christopher Haas disputes this identification, arguing that the murderers were more likely "a crowd of Alexandrian laymen". Socrates Scholasticus unequivocally condemns

13250-419: The usually circular or octagonal church where the tabot ("ark") dedicated to the church's patron saint is housed. On important religious holidays, the tabot is carried on the head of a priest and escorted in procession outside the church. It is the tabot, not the church, which is consecrated. At many services, most parish members remain in the outer ring, where debteras sing hymns and dance. The Eucharist

13375-451: The veneration of Mary. The council was convoked before Nestorius's supporters from Antioch and Syria had arrived and thus Nestorius refused to attend when summoned. Predictably, the Council ordered the deposition and exile of Nestorius for heresy. However, when John of Antioch and the other pro-Nestorius bishops finally reached Ephesus, they assembled their own Council, condemned Cyril for heresy, deposed him from his see, and labelled him as

13500-423: The wake of the conciliar decrees, Shoemaker considers this to be refuted by the picture emerging from liturgical and archaeological evidence. The substance of Cyril's arumentation was Christological in orientation. His mature Mariology was chiefly in service to this, and to the end of discrediting Nestorius. Yet Wessel, quoting Homily IV, notes that the enthusiastic praises go beyond the strictly Christological. "She

13625-403: The whole Christian Church in Alexandria, "for murder and slaughter and all such things are altogether opposed to the Christian religion." After the murder, a deputation of citizens went to Constantinople to petition the Emperor for an investigation so as to prevent such horrors in the future and to put down the disorderly Parabalani, however they urged for the Patriarch to be allowed to remain in

13750-454: The work of Abu Rumi over ten years in Cairo, this version, with some changes, held sway until Emperor Haile Selassie ordered a new translation which appeared in 1960/1. Haile Selassie also played a prominent role in further reforms of the church, which included encouraging the distribution of Abu Rumi's translation throughout Ethiopia, as well as his promotion of improved education of clergy,

13875-608: The world, the crown of virginity, and the sceptre of orthodoxy." Subsequently, such praise would become normative in Marian theology. In several of his works, Cyril focuses on the love of Jesus to his mother. On the Cross , he overcomes his pain and thinks of his mother. At the wedding in Cana , he bows to her wishes. The conflict with Nestorius was mainly over this issue, and some have argued that it has often been misunderstood. "[T]he debate

14000-416: Was accused of too much familiarity with Orestes, prefect of Alexandria, and the charge spread among the clergy, who took up the notion that she interrupted the friendship of Orestes with their archbishop, Cyril." Scholasticus, alleges that Hypatia fell "victim to the political jealousy which at the time prevailed" and that news of Hypatia's murder, "brought no small disgrace", not only to Patriarch Cyril but to

14125-412: Was achieved under Emperor Susenyos I , but not until 1624 did the Emperor make formal submission to the pope . Susenyos made Roman Catholicism the official state religion but was met with heavy resistance by his subjects and by the authorities of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and eventually had to abdicate in 1632 in favour of his son, Fasilides , who promptly restored Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity as

14250-405: Was born circa 376, in the town of Didouseya, Egypt, modern-day El-Mahalla El-Kubra . A few years after his birth, his maternal uncle Theophilus rose to the powerful position of Patriarch of Alexandria . His mother remained close to her brother and under his guidance, Cyril was well educated. His writings show his knowledge of Christian writers of his day, including Eusebius , Origen , Didymus

14375-405: Was completed when Coptic Orthodox Pope Joseph II consecrated an Ethiopian-born Archbishop, Abuna Basilios , 14 January 1951. Then in 1959, Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria crowned Basilios as the first Patriarch of Ethiopia. Basilios died in 1970, and was succeeded that year by Tewophilos . With the fall of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church was disestablished as

14500-468: Was condemned. The following year over 100 bishops met in council at Ephesus to rule on the disputes. In between sessions at the Council Cyril delivered a number of sermons; some of those attributed to his hand are of disputed authorship, but 6 are recognised as genuine. Homily IV delivered upon the late arrival of western delegates is a particularly striking example of Cyril's developed Mariology. It

14625-475: Was granted autocephaly with its own patriarch by Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria , Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church . Tewahedo ( Ge'ez : ተዋሕዶ täwaḥədo ) is a Geʽez word meaning "united as one". This word refers to the Oriental Orthodox belief in the one perfectly unified nature of Christ ; i.e., a complete union of the divine and human natures into one nature is self-evident to accomplish

14750-463: Was made Archbishop of Constantinople. Cyril gained an opportunity to restore Alexandria's pre-eminence over both Antioch and Constantinople when an Antiochine priest who was in Constantinople at Nestorius' behest began to preach against calling Mary the "Mother of God" ( Theotokos ). As the term "Mother of God" had long been attached to Mary, the laity in Constantinople complained against

14875-465: Was not only valuable as a vessel storing something sacred but was herself precious and venerated: ‘Is it even possible for people to speak of the celebrated Mary? The virginal womb; O thing of wonder! The marvel strikes me with awe!’" Such sentiments served to further distinguish what Cyril believed to be orthodox theology from that which Nestorius taught, characterising the latter as subversive to both church and empire. As "scepter of orthodoxy", Mary became

15000-478: Was not so much about Mary as about Jesus. The question was not what honors were due to Mary, but how one was to speak of the birth of Jesus." Wessell notes that in Homily V delivered at the council, Cyril argued that Nestorius' refusal to acknowledge God's incarnate birth from Mary was a blasphemy against Christ. At the same time, the close relationship between Christological and Mariological formulations going back to

15125-534: Was only those involved in the ambush and massacre. Susan Wessel says that, while it is not clear whether Scholasticus was a Novationist (whose churches Cyril had closed), he was apparently sympathetic towards them, and repeatedly accuses Cyril of abusing his episcopal power by infringing on the rights and duties of the secular authorities. Wessel says, however, "...Socrates probably does not provide accurate and unambiguous information about Cyril's relationship to imperial authority". Nonetheless, with Cyril's banishment of

15250-453: Was posted in the city's theater. Cyril sent the grammaticus Hierax to discover the content of the edict. The edict angered Christians as well as Jews. At one such gathering, Hierax read the edict and applauded the new regulations, prompting a disturbance. Many people felt that Hierax was attempting to incite the crowd—particularly the Jews—into sedition. Orestes had Hierax tortured in public in

15375-460: Was provided with a Metonic basic structure in the form of a 19-year lunar cycle adopted by him around AD 425, which was very different from the first Metonic 19-year lunar cycle invented around AD 260 by Anatolius , but exactly equal to the lunar cycle which had been introduced around AD 412 by Annianus ; the Julian equivalent of this Alexandrian cycle adopted by Cyril and nowadays referred to as

15500-597: Was the Patriarch of Alexandria from 412 to 444. He was enthroned when the city was at the height of its influence and power within the Roman Empire . Cyril wrote extensively and was a major player in the Christological controversies of the late-4th and 5th centuries. He was a central figure in the Council of Ephesus in 431, which led to the deposition of Nestorius as Patriarch of Constantinople . Cyril

15625-531: Was the Queen of Ethiopia from c. 42 to 52. Where the possibility of gospel missions by the Ethiopian eunuch cannot be directly inferred from the Books of the New Testament, Irenaeus of Lyons around 180 AD writes that "Simon Backos" preached the good news in his homeland outlining also the theme of his preaching as being the coming in flesh of God that "was preached to you all before." The same kind of witness

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