Christianity was introduced to Ethiopia in the 4th century, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (called Tewahdo in Ethiopia) is one of the oldest organized Christian bodies in the world.
What religion was in Ethiopia before Christianity?
Judaism was practiced in Ethiopia long before Christianity arrived and the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible contains numerous Jewish Aramaic words.
Why did Ethiopia become Christian?
Ezana’s decision to adopt Christianity was most likely influenced by his desire to solidify his trading relationship with the Roman Empire. Christianity afforded the possibility of unifying the many diverse ethnic and linguistic peoples of the Aksumite kingdom, a goal of Ezana’s leadership.
Who was the first Ethiopian Christian?
According to Ethiopian tradition, Christianity first came to the Aksum Empire in the fourth century A.D. when a Greek-speaking missionary named Frumentius converted King Ezana.
What is the Ethiopian name for Jesus?
The Amharic name for the name “Jesus” is the same as the Greek. It is “Iesous” when pronounced, Amharic speakers say it “Iyesus (ኢየሱስ)”.
What was the original religion in Africa?
Christianity came first to the continent of Africa in the 1st or early 2nd century AD. Oral tradition says the first Muslims appeared while the prophet Mohammed was still alive (he died in 632). Thus both religions have been on the continent of Africa for over 1,300 years.
What does the Ethiopian Bible say about Jesus?
In the King James Version and the Catholic Douay-Rheims Version, the Ethiopian says, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (verse 37), but this is omitted in most modern versions.
What was Ethiopia called in the Bible?
The name “Ethiopia” (Hebrew Kush) is mentioned in the Bible numerous times (thirty-seven times in the King James version), and is in many ways considered a holy place.
What Bible does the Ethiopian Orthodox Church use?
The Orthodox Tewahedo biblical canon is a version of the Christian Bible used in the two Oriental Orthodox churches of the Ethiopian and Eritrean traditions: the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.