Figure 1.--The Ethiopian Orthodox Church (sometimes called the Ethiopian Coptic Church) is the largest pre-colonial Christian church of Africa. It is an early Christian church, cut ff from Rome and Western Christianiy by the rise of Islam (7th century AD). It has some 35 million members. It is the largest of all Oriental Orthodox churches. The photo was taken outside the Debre Sina St. Maryam Church, on the Gorgora Peninsula along the shores of Lake Tana in northwestern Ethiopia. It looks more like a purification ritual than a baptism. The priest is probably pouring water from the lake.

Ethiopia is a predominately Christian country with a substabtial Muslim majority. Christianity has played amajor role in the country's history. Ethiopia is the only indigenous Christian country located outside of Europe. It developed independently and was cut off from the rest of Christendom for centuries as a result of the Arab conquest of North Africa. Precise data on the religious diversity is not available. About 60 percent of the country is Christian and 35 percent Muslim. Most of the Christians are Orthodox affiliated with the Coptic Church. There are also some Protestants, but relatively few Roman Catholics. Ethiopia has a special place in Islamic history. The country in Muslim tradition was Abyssinia (Al-Habasha). It was known as the "Haven of the First Migration" (Hijra).The Christians dominate the norther highlands. Muslims predominate in the south. There are also small numbers of other religions. Many of the ethiopian Jws were airlifted to Israel in 1991 during Ethiopia's civil war.

Christianity

The Ethiopian Orthodox Union church is an autonomous Christian Church headed by a patriarch and closely related to the Egyptian Coptic Church. is the largest pre-colonial Christian church of Africa. It is an early Christian church. Christianity became the established religio of the Ethiopian Axumite Kingdom under king Ezana (4th century AD). when priesthood and the sacraments were brought for the first time through a Syrian Greek named Frumentius brought both the piesthood and sacraments to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Church was cut off from Rome and Western Christianity by the rise of Islam (7th century). With the emergence of Islam , Ethiopia's Christians became isolated from the rest of the Christian world (7th century). The head of the Ethiopian church has been traditionall appointed by the patriarch of the Coptic church in Egypt. Ethiopian monks have played an imortant ole in the Church and have certain rights in the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Ethiopia was the only region of Africa where a Chrstian state survived the explosion of Islam from the Arabian Peninsula. A reconnection wth te West did not occur until the Portuguese reached the Indian Ocean (15 century). This led to a period of Jesuite influence. It also introduced a new chllenge to Ehiopian Crisistianity -- European colonialism. There are some 35 million Ethiopian Chtistians. The Ethiopian Church is the largest of all Oriental Orthodox churches. The Ethiopian Orthodox Union church was the state church of Ethiopia until the Revolution (1974). Available numbers are in precise, but some estimates suggest that over 60 percent of Ethiopians identify as Christians. This includes: Orthodox/Coptic about (45 percent), Protestant (nearly 20 percent), and a small number of Roman Catholics. Christianoty is particularly strong in the northern highlands. Most of the Christian, belonging to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, whose 4th Century beginnings came long before most Europeans accepted Christianity. The Abun (Metropolitan Bishop of Ethiopian Church) has a special communion with the Patriarch of Alexandria Head of Egyptian Coptic Church. The term 'Orthodox' is often used for all Eastern Churches that do not have communion with the Roman Pope. This is not correct at all. In the strict sence of the word 'Orthodox' are the Churches that have communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople--the Great Schism (1054). The Coptic Churches of Egypt and Ethiopia, like the Armenian Church, do noy have communion with the Orthodox Churches in the strict sense. They had separated from the 'Great Church' after the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD).

Islam

Ethiopia in Muslim tradition was Abyssinia (Al-Habasha). It was known as the "Haven of the First Migration" (Hijra). For many Muslims, Ethiopia is synonymous with freedom from persecution and emancipation from fear. Ethiopia was in early Muslim history a land goverened by King Negus ( Al-Najashi), a Chrisatian monarch. He was a ruler renowned for justice and in whose land human rights were cherished. Muhammed’s wife and cousin with their followers sought refuge from the persecution of the dominant group in Mecca in Axum--the reactionary Kuraysh, (615). The Kuraysh even sent envoies to bring them back to Mecca. King Negus protected them. After Mohammed seized control and Islam spread, traders from Oman and Yemen began to reach East Africa--Somalia, Eritrea and what is now Ethiopia. The Muslim communities in coastal areas gradually grew and in some areas Sharia (Islamic law) became basis for the official juridical code (14th century). The populations of these areas today are largely Muslim. The Imperial Government ordered thsat he Muslims and Jews of Gonder had to live apart from Christians, but they were allowed to practice their religion freely in their own quarter (1668).

Judaism

We have some insight into Ethiopia's religious history because of references in the Old Testament. Some traditions are legendary, others seem based on fact. Some believe one of the lost Tribes of Israel settled in Ethiopia. The Queen of Sheba was born in Axum, a state which dominated what is modern Ethiopia for centuries. She travelled to Israel to meet King Solomon. They had a son named Menelik, who later became the first emperor of Ethiopia. Legend has it that Menelik brought the original Ark of the Covenant back to Ethiopia from Israel. Today, the Arc remains guarded by a select group of monks in Axum. A sect known as Beta Israel or Falashas, who practice a type of Judaism that probably dates back to contact with early Arabian Jews, were airlifted to Israel in 1991 during Ethiopia's civil war.

Animists

Some Ethiopian tribes are animists. This is particularly true od some of the small, primitive southern tribes. About 3 percent of Ethiopians are animists are of other beliefs.

Sources

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Page
[Return to the Main Ethiopian Religion page]
[Return to the Main Ethiopian page]
[Return to the Main African tribal page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Created: 5:59 PM 5/15/2009
Last updated: 6:15 AM 3/14/2025