African Roots PDF

## Black Catholics in the United States ### Ethiopia: A Powerful Nation - Ethiopia was a powerful nation whose leaders were militant protectors of Christianity in surrounding areas, including southern Arabia and Nubia. - In the first part of the sixth century, the Ethiopian king, Caleb or Elesbaan...

## Black Catholics in the United States ### Ethiopia: A Powerful Nation - Ethiopia was a powerful nation whose leaders were militant protectors of Christianity in surrounding areas, including southern Arabia and Nubia. - In the first part of the sixth century, the Ethiopian king, Caleb or Elesbaan, led an expedition into southern Arabia to punish those responsible for the massacre of Christians at Najran in 523. - Ethiopia became a Christian nation with its own tradition and culture. ### Ethiopia's Unique Practices - By the fifth century, Ethiopia had its own liturgy, derived from the Coptic liturgy of Alexandria. - The liturgy had its own unique characteristics including liturgical texts, sacred rites, dance, music (including the use of the drum), artwork and architecture. - Examples include the famous churches hewn out of the living rock at Lalibela. - Ethiopia has made its own unique contribution to the Christian heritage with its own translation of the Scriptures, its own version of several patristic texts, and its own rich tradition of monasticism and asceticism. - Monasteries began to be established as early as the fifth century, and monks continued to play an important role in the spiritual life of the people throughout Ethiopian history. ### Ethiopian Church's Relationship with the Patriarchate - Liturgically and canonically, Ethiopia was part of the patriarchate of Alexandria. - Down to the middle of the present century, the head of the Ethiopian church, the abuna, or the metropolitan ordained by the patriarch of Alexandria, was always an Egyptian. - This practice ceased finally in 1951, when an Ethiopian was chosen. ### Ethiopia's Theological Practices - Theologically, Ethiopia (like Nubia) followed the Egyptian church in rejecting the position of Rome and Constantinople in the Council of Chalcedon in 451. - As a result, the Ethiopians to this day are Monophysites, except for the several thousand members of the Eastern Rite Ethiopian Church, which is joined with Rome. ### Political and Cultural Influences - Politically, from the fourth to the seventh century, Ethiopia was a partner with the Byzantine Empire in the Red Sea area. - At the same time, Greek influence was very strong, and that language was spoken at the court and by the upper classes. - With the rise of Islam and its spread into Africa in the seventh century, links with the Byzantine Empire and the Mediterranean world were almost completely broken. ### Ethiopia's Role in Church History - In the history of the church, Ethiopia occupies a special place. - Ethiopia has an African church that has its roots in the early church. - Before the church was established in Ireland or Anglo-Saxon England or in any country of northern Europe, a Catholic church linked to St. Athanasius blossomed in an African culture. - Despite any doctrinal differences that arose later, the Ethiopian church is a reminder that Africa forms part of the rich heritage of Catholicism.