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148-404: The Solomonic dynasty is the name given by modern historians to the line of Ethiopian Orthodox Christian monarchs that ruled Ethiopia from the late 13th century to 1974. The dynasty was founded by Yekuno Amlak , a noble from Shewa , who overthrew the last ruler of Ethiopia's Zagwe dynasty in 1270 and seized power. The dynasty later claimed that Yekuno Amlak was a direct male line descendant of

296-633: 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

444-424: 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

592-535: 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

740-421: A Muslim Ethiopia. Amda Seyon's royal chronicle states that Sabr ad-Din proclaimed: In fact, after his first incursion, Sabr ad-Din appointed governors for nearby and neighboring provinces such as Fatagar and Alamalé (i.e. Aymellel, part of the " Guragé country"), as well as far-off provinces in the north like Damot , Amhara , Angot , Inderta , Begemder , and Gojjam . He also threatened to plant khat at

888-719: 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

1036-755: 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

1184-540: A contemporary note written in a manuscript now kept in the island monastery of Lake Hayq , which mentions that in 1309 AM (1316/7 AD), Emperor Amda Seyon successfully campaigned against the Pagan Damot ( ዳሞት መንግስት ) as well as Muslim Harla Kingdom and Hadiya Kingdom . The note describes his conquest of Damot , many of whose people he exiled to another area, and then the conquest of Hadiya, to whose people he did likewise. Though his early control of these regions

1332-516: A division of Damot fought the Beta Israel in the north, while another went to fight in the campaigns in the south against the Sultanate of Ifat . The Emperor improved the imperial army, which until his reign was not as heavily armed as his Muslim adversaries. The 14th century Arab historian al-Umari noted regarding Ethiopian troops that Despite the wide variety of weapons ascribed to

1480-660: A local ruler. From the reign of Amde Tseyon, Chewa regiments , or legions, formed the backbone of the Empire military forces. The Ge’ez term for these regiments is ṣewa (ጼዋ) while the Amharic term is č̣äwa (ጨዋ). The normal size of a regiment was several thousand men. Each regiment was allocated a fief (Gult), to ensure its upkeep ensured by the land revenue. The central army was divided into independent regiments, each with its own specialized name, such as Qeste-Nihb , Hareb Gonda , and Tekula . The independent regiments competed for

1628-499: A member of the deputation sent by the Emperor named Ti'yintay on his way back from Cairo. Haqq ad-Din tried to convert Ti`yintay, killing him when this failed. The Emperor responded by invading Ifat accompanied by, according to Amda Seyon's royal chronicler, only seven horsemen, and killed many of the sultan's soldiers. Part of the army then followed him and destroyed the province's capital, Ifat, and Amda Seyon took much of its wealth in

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1776-649: A mission to Cairo in 1321-2 threatening to retaliate against the Muslims in his kingdom, and threatened to send a legion in conquest of Egypt after diverting the course of the Nile if the sultan did not end his persecution. Though Al-Nasir Muhammad ignored the envoys, fear of the diversion of the Nile in Egypt would continue for centuries. As a result of the dispute and threats, Haqq ad-Din I , sultan of Ifat, seized and imprisoned

1924-765: 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

2072-481: 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

2220-667: 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

2368-825: A red mantle with the Imperial Crown , and before the throne is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah . The Lion of Judah was the central emblem of the Ethiopian tricolour during the reign of the monarchy, and now serves as the chief symbol of the Ethiopian monarchist movement . The Lion of Judah has also been adopted as the leading religious symbol for the Rastafari movement (a Western , African diasporic religious movement ) that regards Emperor Haile Selassie as divine. The phrase "Moa Ambassa ze imnegede Yehuda" ( Conquering Lion of

2516-411: 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

2664-506: 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

2812-660: 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

2960-613: 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

3108-631: A tradition that at this time the Ge'ez translation of the Bible was revised. Also worth mentioning is that four of the Soldiers Songs were composed during the reign of Amda Seyon, and are the earliest surviving extants of Amharic to date. Lastly, Amda Seyon is the first king recorded as having donated to the library of the Ethiopian community at Jerusalem . "These devastating victories settled

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3256-495: 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

3404-648: 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 )

3552-490: 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

3700-541: 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

3848-533: Is a myth. Although the story originated as a medieval political myth, it nevertheless became embedded in the Ethiopian sense of nationhood. This and the dynasty's continued propagation of the myth was reflected in the 1955 Ethiopian constitution , which declared that the emperor "descends without interruption from the dynasty of Menelik I, son of Queen of Ethiopia, the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon of Jerusalem". Menelik II , and later his daughter Zewditu , would be

3996-508: Is a title similar to an archbishop), and is described as being revered and feared like God by the kings and rulers in the region. The chronicle ascribes blame to Salīh, stating that it was he "who gathered the Muslim troops, kings, and rulers" against the Emperor. As a result of these instigations and conditions, Sabr ad-Din I , governor of Ifat as well as brother and successor to Haqq ad-Din, showed defiance to Amda Seyon by confiscating some of

4144-621: 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,

4292-529: 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

4440-583: Is currently held by his direct heir in the male line, Prince Zera Yacob, and by the Crown Council of Ethiopia . The arms are composed of an Imperial Throne flanked by two angels, one holding a sword and a pair of scales, the other holding the Imperial sceptre. The throne is often shown with a globus cruciger and a Star of David , representing the Christian and Jewish traditions. It is surmounted by

4588-531: 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

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4736-508: 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

4884-664: Is his legal heir and therefore the current head of the Imperial dynasty. The Shewan branch has several sub-branches, most notably the Selalle line established by Menelik II's uncle Ras Darge. The oldest junior cadet branch of the Solomonic Dynasty is the Gojjam branch which traces its ancestry through various lines of the main branch of the Solomonic dynasty. One of the more prominent lines comes from Princess Walata Israel,

5032-466: 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

5180-510: 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

5328-528: 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

5476-461: The Abyssinians masters of the region, and from then on there gleams around the name Abyssinians that halo which belongs to the great conquering nations. However, in the long run these victories failed to achieve the desired end." "The campaigns of Amda-Siyon did not create an empire, but they did lay a proper foundation for the creation of a nation later inspire Emperor Emperor Menelik ii for

5624-566: 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

5772-613: 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

5920-520: The Ethiopian Highlands . The Empire expanded and contracted over the centuries, sometimes incorporating parts of modern-day Sudan and South Sudan, and coastal areas of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden . Southern and eastern regions were permanently incorporated during the last two centuries, some by Shewan kings and some by Emperors Menelik II and Haile Selassie; although much of the central and southern regions were previously incorporated into

6068-519: The Horn of Africa in the fourteenth century." It is argued that sufficient evidence shows that Amda Seyon was the son of Wedem Arad . However, when a deputation of monks led by Basalota Mika’el accused him of incest for marrying Emperor Wedem Arad's concubine Jan Mogassa and threatened to excommunicate him, he claimed to be the biological son of the Emperor's brother Qedma Asgad ; this explanation may have had its origins in court gossip. Whatever

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6216-584: 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

6364-794: 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

6512-478: 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

6660-578: The Queen of Sheba , who supposedly came from Aksum, visited Jerusalem where she conceived a son with Solomon. On her return to her homeland of Ethiopia, she gave birth to the child, Menelik I . He and his descendants (which included the Aksumite royal house) ruled Ethiopia until overthrown by the Zagwe usurpers. Yekuno Amlak, as a supposed direct descendant of Menelik I, was therefore claimed to have "restored"

6808-617: The Red Sea : "I, King Amdä-ṣiyon, went to the sea of Eritrea [i.e. "Red Sea"]. When I reached there, I mounted on an elephant and entered the sea. I took up my arrow and spears, killed my enemies, and saved my people." During his campaign, the emperor also met the famous monk Ewostatewos , who was on his way to Armenia . Around 1320, Sultan an-Nasir Muhammad of the Mamluk Sultanate based in Cairo began persecuting Copts and destroying their churches. Amdä Seyon subsequently sent

6956-557: 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

7104-652: 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

7252-473: 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

7400-735: 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

7548-442: 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

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7696-446: 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

7844-419: The Christians has now come to an end; and it has been given to us, for you will reign on in Siyon [i.e. Ethiopia]. Go, ascend [the mountains], and fight the king of the Christians; you will defeat him, and rule him together with his peoples." A second religious leader is noted as having fomented trouble in the region, specifically in Adal and Mora . He is called " Salih whose title was Qazī " (which it notes

7992-422: 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,

8140-457: The Cross"), was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1314 to 1344 and a member of the Solomonic dynasty . He is best known in the so called chronicles as a heroic warrior against the Muslims, and is sometimes considered to have been the founder of the Ethiopian Empire. Amda Seyon's chronicles however appear to be highly unreliable as it was written a hundred years after his reign and conflates conflicts involving successive Ethiopian emperors. Nonetheless

8288-424: 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

8436-461: The Emperor's goods in transit from the coast (i.e. Zeila ), similar to what his brother had done before him. Amda Seyon was furious with Sabr ad-Din, saying to him, "You took away the commodities belonging to me obtained in exchange for the large quantity of gold and silver I had entrusted to the merchants... you imprisoned the traders who did business for me." Sabr ad-Din's rebellion was not an attempt to achieve independence, but to become emperor of

8584-455: 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,

8732-550: 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: Amda Seyon I Amda Seyon I , also known as Amda Tsiyon I ( Ge'ez : ዐምደ ፡ ጽዮን ʿamda ṣiyōn , Amharic : አምደ ፅዮን āmde ṣiyōn , "Pillar of Zion"), throne name Gebre Mesqel (ገብረ መስቀል gäbrä mäsḳal , "Servant of

8880-408: 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

9028-430: The Ethiopian troops by al-Umari, swords and daggers were not often used by the Ethiopian army, which was mainly armed with bows, spears, and shields for defense, along with mounted soldiers. The Muslims, however, are described as having "swords, daggers, iron sticks [ dimbus ]" and other weapons useful in close quarters, and al-Umari notes that "the arrows of the warriors of the Muslim borderlands are bigger" than those of

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9176-422: 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

9324-407: 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

9472-400: The Muslims of Ethiopia were the Emperor's servants. Amda Seyon rejected the governor's pleas, declaring: Amda Seyon continued and was attacked twice in skirmishes before making camp. The Muslims returned during the night in much greater numbers, and attacked him with an army raised from the seven "great clans" of Adal: Gebela, Lebekela, Wargar , Paguma, and Tiqo. During the battle, Amda Seyon

9620-409: 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

9768-667: 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

9916-474: 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

10064-400: The Royal chronicle as "Sumey (-shehal)" and "Simiy (-shihal)." Inze-Aygab also appears once as "Yanz-Aygeb." d. According to Taddesse Tamrat, though the royal chronicle describes Amda Seyon as being armed with a sword, the chronicler only refers to the Emperors skill with the bow and arrow, spear, and shield; Taddesse further notes in a footnote that swords seem to only be used in

10212-420: 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

10360-405: The Solomonic Prince Melmal Iyasu. Its most recent members include Tekle Haimanot, King of Gojjam ; his son Leul Ras Hailu Tekle Haimanot , who was the most senior Ethiopian noble who submitted to the Italian occupation of 1936–1941; and his nephew Ras Hailu Belew, who was a noted figure in the resistance against the Italian occupation. The Imperial coat of arms was adopted by Haile Selassie I, and

10508-446: The Solomonic army. The Ethiopian army's strength was mainly numerical, but Amda Seyon did much to improve his army's equipment, increasing the use of swords and daggers (probably obtained through Muslim traders), and creating a special regiment armed with swords. The Emperor also formed a special regiment of shield-bearers that was probably used to guard his archers. Trade flourished under Amda Seyon. Archeological investigations in

10656-403: The Solomonic line. However, there is no historical evidence supporting the legends or Yekuno Amlak's ancestry. There is no credible basis to the claims that the Aksumite royal house was descended from Solomon (or that any Aksumite king even claimed such an ancestry) or that Yekuno Amlak was descended from the Aksumite royal house. Solomon is dated to the 10th century BCE, hundreds of years before

10804-506: The Tribe of Judah ) appeared on the arms, and always preceded the Emperor's official style and titles. The official Imperial Dynastic motto was "Ityopia tabetsih edewiha habe Igziabiher" ( Ethiopia stretches her hands unto God ), a quote from the Psalm 68:31 . The full title of the Emperor of Ethiopia was Negusa Nagast and Seyoume Igziabeher ( Ge'ez : ሥዩመ እግዚአብሔር; "Elect of God"). The title Moa Anbessa Ze Imnegede Yehuda ("Conquering Lion of

10952-421: The Tribe of Judah") always preceded the titles of the Emperor. It was not a personal title but rather referred to the title of Jesus and placed the office of Christ ahead of the Emperor's name in an act of Imperial submission. Until the reign of Yohannes IV , the Emperor was also Neguse Tsion ( Ge'ez : ንጉሠ ጽዮን, ' nəgusä tsiyon)' , "King of Zion"), whose seat was at Axum , and which conferred hegemony over much of

11100-630: 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

11248-591: The Zagwe throne, his reign was meant to be a unification of both dynasties in the enthronement of a king bearing both lineages. Tekle Giyorgis II fought a battle with the Tigrean claimant Kassai Mercha (Yohannes IV), and the latter, who had retrieved superior weaponry and armament from the British in return for his assistance in the defeat of Tewodros II, would be able to defeat Tekle Giyorgis II's army, imprisoning and killing him. The Tigrean line came to power briefly with

11396-466: 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

11544-506: 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

11692-458: The battle and sent fresh troops who had not fought to pursue the surviving enemies. They were able to reach the survivors on the banks of a nearby river by morning and kill them, taking many swords, bows, spears, and clothes. Jamal ad-Din, despite being his appointee, also joined the rebellion, collaborating with the ruler of Adal imam Salih to encircle the Emperor, to which the ruler of Adal responded by mobilizing his forces. The Ethiopian army

11840-771: The best known is the Kebra Nagast , which is said to have been translated from Arabic then. Other works from this period include the Mashafa Mestira Samay Wamedr ("The Book of the Mysteries of Heaven and Earth") written by Giyorgis of Segla , and the Zena Eskender ("History of Alexander the Great"), a romance wherein Alexander the Great becomes a Christian saint. Ullendorff has identified

11988-764: The capital and killed many soldiers, but Sabr ad-Din once again escaped. Amda Seyon's forces then grouped together for a final attack, destroying one of his camps, killing many men, women, and children, taking the rest prisoner, as well as looting it of its gold, silver, and its "fine clothes and jewels without number." Sabr ad-Din subsequently sued for peace, appealing to Queen Jan Mengesha, who refused his peace offer and expressed Amda Seyon's determination not to return to his capital until he had searched Sabr ad-Din out. Upon hearing this, Sabr ad-Din realized that his rebellion futile and surrendered himself to Amda Seyon's camp. Amda Seyon's courtiers demanded that Sabr ad-Din be executed, but he instead granted him relative clemency and had

12136-437: The capital, a stimulant used by Muslims but forbidden to Ethiopian Orthodox Christians . Sabr ad-Din's rebellion, with its religious support and ambitious goals, was therefore seen as a jihad rather than an attempt at independence, and it was consequently immediately joined by the nearby Muslim province of Dewaro (the first known mention of the province), under the governor Haydera, and the western province of Hadiya under

12284-614: 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

12432-542: 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

12580-434: 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

12728-514: The coming to power of Tewodros II , whose later claims of Solomonic descent were never widely accepted. Following Tewodros, Wagshum Gobeze claimed the throne linking himself to the last independent Gondarine emperors through his mother, Aychesh Tedla, a descendant of Iyasu I , and reigned as emperor of Ethiopia with the title Tekle Giyorgis II for some years, highly investing in the renovation of churches and monuments in Gondar. Being also an heir to

12876-489: The conquests, though some were undoubtedly kept as servants to the royal court, while others were exported to slave markets or given to private citizens. Those who were to serve the Emperor were given military training, probably under a commander from the same region and loyal to the Emperor. Most of these groups were broken down into smaller sections due to their size; for instance, in Amda Seyon's 1332 (or 1329) campaigns,

13024-402: 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

13172-537: The country's history. He is famous for never losing a battle. His tomb is believed to be in Adi Qelebes. Two different years have been offered for when these extensive military actions occurred is disputed. In his translation of The Glorious Victories , G.W.B. Huntingford follows James Bruce in placing this in 1329. Huntingford notes that Amda Seyon is recorded as celebrating Easter on 28 Miyazya (= 24 April in 1329), which would best fit that year. However,

13320-399: The crucial question as to which of the powers, Christian or Muslim. The victories of Amda-Siyon help Abyssinians survive." States Mohammed Hassen , "It made the southern region the nerve centre of Ethiopian history. Henceforth for the next two centuries, the southern region remained the source from which the stream of history flowed in different channels. In short, the wars of Amda-Siyon made

13468-569: The daughter of Melmal Iyasu and Empress Mentewab. She married Dejazmach Yosedek, who gave rise to the Gojam Imperial House by means of their child "Talaku" Ras Hailu. The Princes of Gojam, which include Ras Merid Hailu (son of Ras Hailu Yosedek), Ras Goshu Zewde, Tekle Haymanot of Gojjam , Dejazmach Tadla Gwalu and Ras Desta Tadla all claim royal blood through the main Gonder Imperial House through Empress Mentewab and

13616-605: 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

13764-424: The dynasty were released by the regime from prison in 1989, and the men were released in 1990. Several members were then allowed to leave the country in mid-1990, and the rest left in 1991 upon the fall of the communist régime . Many members of the Imperial family have since returned to live in Ethiopia. During much of the dynasty's existence, its effective realm was the northwestern quadrant of present-day Ethiopia,

13912-423: The empire under Amda Seyon I and Zara Yaqob , peripheral areas were lost after the invasion of Ahmad Gragn . In the modern era, the Imperial dynasty has several cadet branches . The elder Gondarine Amhara line, starting with Susenyos I in 1606 (although often credited to his son Fasilides who established his capital at Gondar) ended its rule with the fall of the largely powerless Yohannes III in 1855 and

14060-581: The enthronement of Yohannes IV in 1872, and although this line did not persist on the Imperial throne after the Emperor was killed at the Battle of Gallabat with the Mahdists in 1889, the heirs of this cadet branch ruled Tigray until the revolution of 1974 toppled the Ethiopian monarchy. The Tigrean Cadet branch (along with its various sub-branches) traces its lineage to the main Solomonic line of Emperors through at least two female lines. The more recent link

14208-482: The extensive military campaigns Amda Seyon undertook in the plains drained by the Awash River . Beginning on 24 Yakatit (18 February), the Emperor led his army against a number of enemies; another document, referring to this year, states that he defeated 10 kings. Rebellion in the Muslim provinces stemmed from the threat to Islam by Amda Seyon, magnified by the earlier loss of trade from his campaigns. This defiance

14356-523: 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

14504-653: 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 is in communion with

14652-486: The form of gold, silver, bronze, lead, and clothing. Amda Seyon continued his reprisals throughout all of the provinces of Ifat, pillaging Kwelgora , Biqulzar , Gidaya , Hubat , Fedis , Qedsé, Hargaya , and Shewa , populated mainly by Muslims, taking livestock, killing many inhabitants, destroying towns and mosques, as well as taking prisoners. As a result of Amda Seyon's reprisals, other Muslim states tried to attack his army, seeing that his army had become weak from

14800-408: The founding of Aksum. Historian Harold G. Marcus describes the stories of the Kebra Nagast as a "pastiche of legends" created to legitimize Yekuno Amlak's seizure of power. David Northrup notes that the Kebra Nagast's imaginative and emotive account of a line of descent from Solomon and Sheba to the kings of Aksum and the new Solomonic dynasty is highly improbable and unsupported by evidence. It

14948-543: The generally accepted year for this campaign is 1332, which is the opinion of such authorities as August Dillmann , Carlo Conti Rossini , and Enrico Cerulli . Taddesse Tamrat points to another document which dates Amda Seyon's 18th regnal year to 498 Year of Grace , which confirms that the year 516 in The Glorious Victories is correct and that the campaigns took place in AD 1332. Emperor Amda Seyon's army

15096-403: The governor of nearby Tembien to join him. Amda Seyon responded swiftly, killing the governor, dividing the titles, and awarding them to different individuals of lowly origin. The Emperor's appointees were unpopular, described as "men who were not born from Adam and Eve who were called Halestiyotat ," a term literally meaning "bastard of mixed or low origins". To consolidate his control in

15244-418: The grandson of Dawit II by his youngest son Abeto Yaqob. The direct male line ended with Menelik II, who was succeeded first by the son of his daughter Lij Iyasu from 1913 to 1916, then by his daughter Zewditu until 1930, and finally by the son of a first cousin in the female line, Haile Selassie. Haile Selassie's reign lasted until 1974, when the dynasty was removed from power. His grandson Prince Zera Yacob

15392-489: 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

15540-415: The king's favor, who "raised" and "nourished" them from childhood. The regiments were led by an intimately loyal commander directly responsible to Amda Seyon. His own son, Saf-Asegid, commanded one of these divisions, as did Amda Seyon's brother-in-law. Moreover, the commander of Qeste-Nihb , Simishehal, along with his colleague Inze-Aygeb, were described as the "most beloved" officers of the Emperor, who

15688-417: The land of Sharkha and imprisoned its governor Yoseph. These efforts extended Ethiopian rule for the first time across the Awash River , gaining control of Dawaro , Bale , and other Muslim states. At the close of this campaign, the chronicles states that Amda Seyon would eventually return to the highlands, never again to set foot in the Muslim territories, which the chronicler claims was unprecedented in

15836-685: The last Ethiopian monarchs who could claim uninterrupted direct male descent from Solomon of Israel and the Queen of Sheba (both Lij Iyasu and Haile Selassie were in the female line, Lij Iyasu through his mother Shewarega Menelik, and Haile Selassie through his paternal grandmother, Tenagnework Sahle Selassie). The male line, through the descendants of Menelik's cousin Dejazmatch Taye Gulilat, still existed, but had been pushed aside largely because of Menelik's personal distaste for this branch of his family. The Solomonic Dynasty continued to rule Ethiopia with few interruptions until 1974, when

15984-413: The last emperor, Haile Selassie, was deposed. The Imperial family is currently non-regnant. Members of the family in Ethiopia at the time of the 1974 Ethiopian Revolution were imprisoned; some were executed and others exiled. In 1976, ten great-grandchildren of Haile Selassie were extracted from Ethiopia in an undertaking later detailed in a book by Jodie Collins, titled Code Word: Catherine . The women of

16132-418: The leaves of the trees or the grass in the fields." Despite the extravagance he bestowed on his men, many chose not to fight due to the inhospitability of Ifat's mountainous and arid terrain and the complete absence of roads. Nevertheless, they advanced on 24 Yakatit , and an attachment was able to find the rebellious governor and put him to flight. Once the remainder of Amda Seyon's army arrived, they destroyed

16280-488: The long campaigns. The people of Gebel and Wargar who historian Taddesse Tamrat associates with Warjih , were reportedly "very skilled in warfare," subsequently attacked and pillaged some Christian regions. The people of Medra Zega and Manzih ( Menz ), then Muslims, also surrounded and attacked the Emperor's army, who defeated them and killed their commander Dedadir, a son of Haqq ad-Din. The most important primary source for his reign, The Glorious Victories , describes

16428-439: The most power among the northern provinces and held the title Hasgwa and Aqabé Tsentsen ('keeper of the fly whisks – an ancient Aksumite title) and threatened the Amhara -based lineage currently in power. As early as 1305, Tesfane Igzi' referred to Enderta as "his kingdom," his son and successor, Ya'ibika Igzi, did not even mention the Emperor in his 1318/9 land grant. Ya'ibika Igzi eventually rebelled, unsuccessfully inviting

16576-500: The north of the Empire ( see: Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles ). Descendants of Prince Sahle Selassie : Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church ( Amharic : የኢትዮጵያ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ቤተ ክርስቲያን , romanized :  Yä-ityopp'ya ortodoks täwahədo betä krəstiyan ) is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches . One of

16724-513: 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

16872-808: 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

17020-470: The province's apostate Christians. The Emperor was first given the priests, deacons, and soldiers, who were each given 30 lashes and imprisoned as slaves. He then turned to the other traitors, whom Jamal ad-Din refused to hand over. Amda Seyon again ravaged Ifat and deposed Jamal ad-Din, appointing Nasir ad-Din, another brother of Sabr ad-Din, as governor. Having finished campaigning in Ifat, he took his army to

17168-444: The rainy season was soon approaching. Amda Seyon refused, however, saying to them: The new governor of Ifat also beseeched him to return, giving him many gifts, stating that his country was ruined and begging him not to "ravage it again," so that its inhabitants may recover and work the land for the Emperor. He promised him that if he left that Ifat and its inhabitants would serve the Emperor with their trade and tribute and that he and

17316-432: The rebellious governor imprisoned. Amda Seyon then appointed the governor's brother, Jamal ad-Din I , as his successor in Ifat. Just as the Ifat rebellion had been quelled, however, the neighboring provinces of Adal and Mora just north of Ifat rose against the Emperor. Amda Seyon soon also put down this rebellion. After much campaigning, Amda Seyon's troops were exhausted and wished to return to their homes, pleading that

17464-455: The region, Amda Seyon established a military colony of non- Tigrayan troops at Amba Senayata, the center of the rebellion, and appointed his queen consort , Bilén Saba (ብሌን ሳባ, as governor of Enderta, along with a new batch of officials below her. The Queen ruled indirectly however, which caused unrest in the province as the population heavily resented Amhara rule. This induced the Emperor to appoint one of his sons, Bahr Seged, as governor, who

17612-458: The right-wing commander of the cavalry regiment Korem (named after the region/town of the same name ) in 1332 then part of Angot , in Bete Amhara . His central army further consisted of regional regiments similar to those of his local militias. They were drawn mainly from newly conquered provinces and shared a cultural and linguistic heritage. Most soldiers were probably prisoners taken in

17760-486: The royal house of the Kingdom of Aksum . The Aksumite kings had ruled much of Ethiopia from the 1st to the 10th centuries AD when they had been replaced by the Zagwe dynasty. Through the Aksumite royal house, it was also claimed that Yekuno Amlak was a descendant of the biblical king, Solomon . The canonical form of the claim was set out in legends recorded in the Kebra Nagast , a 14th century text. According to this,

17908-500: 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

18056-422: The sight of the powerful armies of Jamal ad-Din and of Adal, the sick Amda Seyon noted: "Have you forgotten, besides, that it was I who raised, you, nourished you, and covered you with ornaments of gold and silver and precious clothes!" c. Simshehal's name also appears as "Semey" in a list of governors with the title Ma'ikele-Bahr (lit. "between the rivers/seas," a northern maritime province) and in

18204-496: The south, Amda Seyon had to turn north to strengthen his control over areas that had in the meanwhile gained more autonomy. The northern Tigrayan Enderta Province had increasingly been asserting its independence since the Solomonic restoration under Yekuno Amlak in 1270. During Yekuno Amlak's time, the governor of Enderta was Ingida Igzi' , who was succeeded by his son, Tesfane Igzi'. As governor of Enderta, Tesfane Igzi' had

18352-713: 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

18500-424: The strength of the new Solomonic dynasty and therefore legitimized it. These expansions further provided for the spread of Christianity to frontier areas, sparking a long era of proselytization, Christianization , and integration of previously peripheral areas. According to British historian Edward Ullendorff , "Amda Seyon was one of the most outstanding Ethiopian kings of any age and a singular figure dominating

18648-428: The text state most of his wars were against the Muslim sultanates to the southeast, which he was able to fight and always defeat, and substantially enlarge his kingdom by gradually incorporating a number of neighboring states. His supposed conquests of Muslim borderlands were said to have greatly expanded Christian territory and power in the region, which were maintained for centuries after his death. Amda Seyon asserted

18796-405: The town and their livestock, as well as killing many of its inhabitants. Amda Seyon then continued to Degwi, killing numerous neighboring Warjih pastoralists, who had previously attacked and pillaged some Christian areas earlier in his reign. The chronicle described the people as "very wicked," as they "neither knew God nor feared men". Before the end of the month of December, Amda Seyon ravaged

18944-401: The town of Gu'ét, where he killed many men and captured numerous women and cattle. The Emperor then invaded the region of modern Somaliland , where he defeated an attack by the people of Harla . Amda Seyon then advanced to the town of Dilhoya. The town had previously deposed his governor by immolation, along with other Christian men and women, to which the Emperor responded by taking and looting

19092-471: The trade and wealth of the eastern Muslim provinces. For the first time, the Muslim presence in the region was threatened, which later resulted in alliances between the Muslim provinces (which often rebelled) when they had previously acted more independently of each other. In the same year as his campaigns against the southern regions of Damot and Hadiya, the emperor also campaigned against the more northerly province of Gojjam . After his 1316/7 campaigns in

19240-503: The treasuries of Ethiopian churches and monasteries have recovered coins , textiles and other objects that prove the existence of trade with the Byzantine Empire . Taddesse Tamrat also notes that he had a Syrian secretary from a Christian family of Damascus , who helped him keep in close touch with events in the Middle East . Some of the earliest works of Ethiopian literature were written during Amda Seyon's reign. Perhaps

19388-537: The truth of Amda Seyon's parentage, the imperial history known as the Paris Chronicle records that he expressed his rage at his accusers by beating one of them, Abbot Anorewos of Segaja , and exiling the other ecclesiastics to Dembiya and Begemder . It is not known how Amda Seyon became Emperor. However, a few pieces of information indicate that he may have been involved in the succession struggle against Wedem Arad . Taddesse Tamrat reports that he found

19536-482: The unification of modern Ethiopia . In no concrete manner was there a creative marriage of cultures, a passage of ideas, an equal sharing of wealth. To the Christians the conquest meant constant enrichment." a. Taddesse Tamrat notes that, according to Jules Perruchon, Tekula literally means "jackal," while Qeste-Nihb means "the sting of the bee." b. Seeing many of his soldiers flee at

19684-419: 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

19832-497: The vassal local ruler Ameno. Sabr ad-Din divided his troops into three parts, sending a division north-westwards to attack Amhara , one northwards to attack Angot, and another, under his personal command, westward to take Shewa . Amda Seyon subsequently mobilized his soldiers to meet the threat, endowing them with gifts of gold, silver, and lavish clothing – so much so that the chronicler explains that "in his reign gold and silver abounded like stones and fine clothes were as common as

19980-402: 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,

20128-412: 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

20276-405: 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

20424-403: Was distressed when he learned of their injury at the Battle of Hagera . The specialized regiments tied their fortune to that of the Emperor and were most likely taken from the best soldiers from around the country. Amda Seyon used them whenever quick action had to be taken, and their regiment commanders would often serve the role of governor in times of crises in certain provinces, as did Digna,

20572-416: Was encircled by the two armies in the Battle of Das , but Amda Seyon was able to defeat them, despite being ill. He then led his army against Talag , the capital of Adal, where the brother of the governor of Adal and three of the governor's sons surrendered. The Emperor then defeated another governor-king, retraced his steps, returning to Bequlzar in Ifat, where he commanded Jamal ad-Din to deliver him all of

20720-477: Was encouraged and perhaps even instigated by religious leaders in Ifat and other Muslim provinces. The "false prophet" reported as having fled from Hadiya during the 1316/7 campaigns continued spreading propaganda against the king in Ifat, where he was one of Sabr ad-Din's advisors. The chronicle states: The false prophet fled to the land of Ifat and lived there propagating his false teaching... And when Säbrädīn asked him for council he told him saying: "The kingdom of

20868-475: 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

21016-436: Was infuriated, invading Hadiya and killing many people, and taking Amano prisoner along with many of his subjects. Bel'am, however was able to escape the emperor by fleeing to Ifat . These conquests represented a significant advancement of Amda Seyon's eventual goal of controlling the inland trade previously controlled by the Muslims in Ifat and farther east. Hadiya's conquest deeply affected the slave trade and consequently hurt

21164-582: Was later in 1328 also given control of the maritime provinces under the title of Ma'ikele Bahr ("Between the Rivers/Seas"). In 1329, the Emperor campaigned in the northern provinces of Semien , Wegera , Tselemt , and Tsegede , in which many had been converting to Judaism and where the Beta Israel had been gaining prominence. Amda Seyon was also wary of Muslim power along the Red Sea coast and therefore headed to area in modern Eritrea bordering

21312-411: Was minimal, it is evident by 1332 (or 1329) that Hadiya had been fully integrated, providing troops for his 1332 campaigns against the Sultanate of Ifat . The King of Hadiya, Amano, refused to visit the emperor and give his tribute, encouraged by, according to Amda Seyon's chronicler, a Muslim "prophet of darkness" named Bel'am. According to the emperor's Chronicle, Bel'am told him to rebel: The emperor

21460-516: Was remarkably similar to the organization of the army during ancient Aksumite times . It consisted of two parts: the first, his central army, was very effective and closely attached to the Royal Court; the second was a much larger local militia raised in times of local crises. These local units would, as in Aksumite times, form a distinctive unit and fight together, maintaining their local character and were divided into smaller units each headed by

21608-405: Was struck from the rear by an enemy's sword, cutting his girdle around his waist and his battle dress, but the Emperor was able to turn and kill the attacker with his spear before he could strike again. According to James Bruce , the imperial army had been infiltrated by foreign agents from Harar , however Amda Seyon's men were able to apprehend and execute them. Amda Seyon emerged victorious from

21756-486: 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

21904-609: Was through Woizero Aster Iyasu (wife of Ras Mikael Sehul , daughter of Mentewab and her lover, Melmal Iyasu, a Solomonic prince and nephew of Mentewab's late husband Bakaffa ). The Shewan line was next on the Imperial throne with the coronation of Menelik II, previously Menelik King of Shewa, in 1889. The Shewan Branch of the Imperial Solomonic dynasty, like the Gondarine line, could trace uninterrupted male line descent from King Yekonu Amlak, though Abeto Negassi Yisaq,

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