African Roots in Black Catholicism

African Roots in Black Catholicism

• Black Catholics in America sought their origins in the religious experiences of Africa and identification with early African saints.
• Both Protestant and Catholic Americans found their roots in black Africans referenced in the Bible, particularly in the Old and New Testaments, and especially in references to Ethiopia in the Psalms and Prophets.
• Origen, a third-century Alexandrian church father, believed the bride in the Song of Songs represented the church.
• Origen believed the Queen of Sheba was an Ethiopian queen with black skin.
• Origen saw the Queen of Sheba's blackness as a symbol of the church's universality, encompassing all nations.
• Origen looked to Old Testament figures with black skin to foreshadow the Christian church, such as Moses' wife and Ebed-Melech, the custodian who saved Jeremiah.
• The land of Kush in the Old Testament referred to Nubia, south of Egypt, a region known for its rich history and civilization.
• Nubians, known for their dark skin, were both beneficiaries and contributors to Egyptian civilization.
• Nubians, in addition to receiving Egyptian culture, also adapted it and developed their own unique culture, architecture, writing system, and even an empire.
• The XXVth Dynasty, the reign of black pharaohs, lasted almost a century, ruling both Egypt and Nubia.
• The prophet Isaiah referenced the powerful Nubian warriors in his writings.
• Isaiah also noted the eventual defeat of Egypt by Assyria, with the Nubian king Tirhakah leading Egyptian troops against the Assyrians.
• The Nubians ultimately returned to Nubia after their defeat by Assyria and lost control over Egypt.
• The "Ethiopian Eunuch” in the New Testament, from Acts 8:26-40, is believed to be from Nubia, highlighting black individuals' presence in early Christianity.
• While the man's identity is not fully revealed, his wealth is indicated by his travels by chariot and his position as a royal treasurer in Nubia.
• The Nubian church, despite being isolated from other Christian centers, thrived.
• Nubian churches were adorned with murals depicting saints and royalty, with saints depicted as white and royalty often depicted with darker skin.
• The Nubian culture was influenced by Byzantine architecture, language, art, and administration, with evidence indicating use of Greek alongside Coptic and Nubian languages.
• The Nubian church remained an outpost of Christianity for far longer than previously believed.
• The Mountain Kingdom of Axum, located in modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, became a commercial center, facilitating trade with countries across the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and African interior.
• The Ethiopian kings of Axum expanded their dominion over Nubia, northern Ethiopia, and parts of southern Arabia.
• The king of Axum held the title "king of kings," reflecting their dominance over others in the region.
• Ezana, an influential fourth-century king of Axum, played a key role in the rise of Christianity in Ethiopia through the efforts of Frumentius and Edesius, two Syrian slaves who converted to Christianity.
• Frumentius, recognized as a saint in both the Catholic and Ethiopian churches, is considered the founder of the Ethiopian church.
• Evidence of Ezana's conversion to Christianity can be found in inscriptions and coinage.
• The spread of Christianity in Ethiopia is believed to have steadily grown, with Ethiopian pilgrims frequently visiting Jerusalem by the late fourth century.
• By the middle of the sixth century, Ethiopia solidified its position as a powerful nation, actively protecting neighboring areas, including southern Arabia and Nubia.