KibreQidusan Medhanealem EOTC Mission and Vision
Kibre Qidusane Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido church in Seattle WA
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewado Church (EOTC) has been preserved and has managed to maintain its originality throughout the centuries Our church has accepted the Apostolic Faith and Canons affirmed at the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea (325 AD), the Second Ecumenical Council at Constantinople (381 AD), and the Third Ecumenical Council at Ephesus (431 AD). And our church has preached this apostolic faith and canons ever since to all people who believe in Jesus Christ regardless of culture, language , and ethnicity.
Brief History of The Ethiopian Church
Adapted from what has been written in "THE LITURGY OF THE ETHIOPIAN CHURCH",
By Archbishop Yesehaq, Addis Ababa, 27th February, 1954.
________________________________________
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, an indigenous and integral Church of Africa is one of the oldest Churches in the world, if not the oldest one, and is a founder member of the World Council of Churches. It has branches in other parts of the world such as Jerusalem, Sudan, The United States of America, Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Bermuda and England.
From the beginning the Church was affiliated with See of St. Mark of Alexandria. After Frumentius, her first Archbishop died, Egyptian bishops were appointed to head the Church; until 1959 a complete independence was granted. This connection was discontinued for a while because of the conquests occurred by Caliph Omar, a Muslim (634 - 644 A.D. ).
During these conquests the Byzantine Empire was pushed out of Syria altogether. Armenia was overrun, all Mesopotamia was conquered and Persia beyond the river. Egypt passed through much temptations. The Church is in full communion with Jacobite Church of Syria, the Church of Malabar in India, and the Armenian Church. It also maintains friendly relations with many other Christian Churches.
Protestant missionaries have been allowed in the country since the reign of Menelik II whereas during the times of Emperor Tewodros (Theodore) (1838) and Yohannes (John) (1886) they were not allowed. These missionaries have their greatest activities in the western part of the country where it borders with former European colonies. When one speaks of the E.O.C. one speaks directly about the nation and their civilization. Intelligence and justice of the country were originated in the Church; its Head being the Lord Jesus Christ. The Church is the creator of art and crafts, literature, as well as creator of the secular and theological educational institutions and its curriculum. Until the time of Emperor Menelik II the Church was responsible for educating the nation. Even the Fetha Nagast (The Laws of Kings) which is composed of Canon Law and Civil Law is the creation of the Church.
The Introduction of Christianity into Ethiopia (The Ethiopian Eunuch)
The country embraced Christianity and maintained the doctrine of Christ from the era of the Apostles to the present day, as it is narrated in (Acts 8:26-39). The history of St. Phillip the Apostle baptizing the Eunuch who was very much interested in religion, is of great interest for the Ethiopian Church history. This Eunuch was a man of high rank, the finance minister of Candace Queen of Ethiopia.
Eusebius speaks of him as the first fruits of the faithful in the whole world. Irenius writes that preached the Gospel of the Ethiopians. Other evidence is that during the time that the Eunuch preached Christianity, Ethiopian women wore crosses upon their heads signifying the recognition of the Crucifixion of Christ. Besides St. John Chnysostom witnessed that among those who were present at Pentecost (the birth of the Universal Church) were Ethiopians.
In the history of the Church, it is further recorded that St. Matthew the Apostle preached the Gospel to the Ethiopians and won a few converts to the new doctrine and left the country.
View PodcastKibre Qidusane Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido church in Seattle WA
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewado Church (EOTC) has been preserved and has managed to maintain its originality throughout the centuries Our church has accepted the Apostolic Faith and Canons affirmed at the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea (325 AD), the Second Ecumenical Council at Constantinople (381 AD), and the Third Ecumenical Council at Ephesus (431 AD). And our church has preached this apostolic faith and canons ever since to all people who believe in Jesus Christ regardless of culture, language , and ethnicity.
Brief History of The Ethiopian Church
Adapted from what has been written in "THE LITURGY OF THE ETHIOPIAN CHURCH",
By Archbishop Yesehaq, Addis Ababa, 27th February, 1954.
________________________________________
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, an indigenous and integral Church of Africa is one of the oldest Churches in the world, if not the oldest one, and is a founder member of the World Council of Churches. It has branches in other parts of the world such as Jerusalem, Sudan, The United States of America, Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Bermuda and England.
From the beginning the Church was affiliated with See of St. Mark of Alexandria. After Frumentius, her first Archbishop died, Egyptian bishops were appointed to head the Church; until 1959 a complete independence was granted. This connection was discontinued for a while because of the conquests occurred by Caliph Omar, a Muslim (634 - 644 A.D. ).
During these conquests the Byzantine Empire was pushed out of Syria altogether. Armenia was overrun, all Mesopotamia was conquered and Persia beyond the river. Egypt passed through much temptations. The Church is in full communion with Jacobite Church of Syria, the Church of Malabar in India, and the Armenian Church. It also maintains friendly relations with many other Christian Churches.
Protestant missionaries have been allowed in the country since the reign of Menelik II whereas during the times of Emperor Tewodros (Theodore) (1838) and Yohannes (John) (1886) they were not allowed. These missionaries have their greatest activities in the western part of the country where it borders with former European colonies. When one speaks of the E.O.C. one speaks directly about the nation and their civilization. Intelligence and justice of the country were originated in the Church; its Head being the Lord Jesus Christ. The Church is the creator of art and crafts, literature, as well as creator of the secular and theological educational institutions and its curriculum. Until the time of Emperor Menelik II the Church was responsible for educating the nation. Even the Fetha Nagast (The Laws of Kings) which is composed of Canon Law and Civil Law is the creation of the Church.
The Introduction of Christianity into Ethiopia (The Ethiopian Eunuch)
The country embraced Christianity and maintained the doctrine of Christ from the era of the Apostles to the present day, as it is narrated in (Acts 8:26-39). The history of St. Phillip the Apostle baptizing the Eunuch who was very much interested in religion, is of great interest for the Ethiopian Church history. This Eunuch was a man of high rank, the finance minister of Candace Queen of Ethiopia.
Eusebius speaks of him as the first fruits of the faithful in the whole world. Irenius writes that preached the Gospel of the Ethiopians. Other evidence is that during the time that the Eunuch preached Christianity, Ethiopian women wore crosses upon their heads signifying the recognition of the Crucifixion of Christ. Besides St. John Chnysostom witnessed that among those who were present at Pentecost (the birth of the Universal Church) were Ethiopians.
In the history of the Church, it is further recorded that St. Matthew the Apostle preached the Gospel to the Ethiopians and won a few converts to the new doctrine and left the country.