Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ቤተ ክርስቲያን, romanized: Yä-ityopp'ya ortodoks täwahədo betä krəstiyan) is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. It is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the first Christian church from sub-Saharan Africa.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has millions of members in Ethiopia and around the world. It believes in something called miaphysitism, which means that Jesus Christ has one nature that brings together his divine and human parts. The church is also connected to other ancient Christian churches, such as the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

Name

Tewahedo (Ge'ez: ተዋሕዶ täwaḥədo) means "being made one" or "unified". It describes a special belief in the Oriental Orthodox Churches about who Christ is. These churches believe that Christ's divine and human parts are one nature, not two separate ones. This belief is different from what the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church teach.

The Oriental Orthodox Churches, including the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, are called Non-Chalcedonian Christianity because they did not agree with choices made at the Council of Chalcedon in the year 451. Some people wrongly call their belief "monophysite," but the Ethiopian Church prefers the term "miaphysite," meaning one united nature.

History

Origins

Early stories tell of Ethiopian Christians meeting Jesus' followers in Jerusalem. Traditions say some of Jesus' earliest followers, called Apostles, traveled to lands we now call Ethiopia as early as the 4th century. One important story from the Bible tells how an official from Ethiopia met a follower of Jesus named Philip. Philip helped this official understand a Bible passage, and the official asked to be baptized. This helped spread Christianity in Ethiopia.

Christianity became the main religion in the Ethiopian Axumite Kingdom in the 4th century. A man named Frumentius, who had been shipwrecked on the coast, became very important at the royal court. He helped baptize King Ezana, and is believed to have set up the first monastery in Ethiopia.

Middle Ages

For many years, the Ethiopian Church stayed closely connected with a church in Egypt called the Coptic Orthodox Church. Leaders from Egypt sent letters and bishops to help guide the church in Ethiopia.

During this time, some Ethiopian monks started movements that challenged church leaders and kings. One movement, started by a monk named Ewostatewos, wanted to follow the Sabbath more strictly. Another movement, led by a monk named Estifanos, rejected some traditions and the king's control over the church. These movements show that there were many different ideas about religion and leadership in medieval Ethiopia.

Jesuit interim

Later, some people from Portugal tried to make Ethiopia follow the rules of the Roman Catholic Church. This happened while Portugal was fighting with Muslim groups trying to control trade routes to India. One emperor, Susenyos I, agreed to follow Roman Catholic rules, but many people in Ethiopia did not like this change. After Susenyos I stepped down, his son Fasilides brought back the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and sent the Portuguese missionaries away.

Influence on the Reformation

Some historians think the Ethiopian Church influenced the start of the Reformation in Europe. Martin Luther, who started the Reformation, admired the Ethiopian Church because it had practices like sharing communion in both kinds, using local languages in services, and having married priests. These were similar to ideas Luther supported. Luther believed the Ethiopian Church kept many true practices from the early Christian days.

Recent history

In more recent times, the Ethiopian Church made several changes. In the 19th century, the Bible was translated into Amharic, the main language of Ethiopia. Emperor Haile Selassie helped improve education for church leaders and made new rules for the church in 1942.

In 1948, the Ethiopian Church became fully independent from the Coptic Church in Egypt. The first Ethiopian Patriarch, Basilios, was chosen in 1951. Later leaders faced challenges, including changes in government and disagreements among church leaders.

In 2018, the church reunited with a group that had separated from it many years earlier. More recently, some clergy in the Tigray region of Ethiopia formed their own church, feeling that the main church was not supporting them during a difficult time in their area.

Traditions

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has special beliefs and practices. Followers believe in God, honor the Virgin Mary, angels, and saints, and follow teachings from the Old and New Testaments. Priests lead services and only they may enter the most sacred part of the church. Important holidays include carrying sacred items in processions.

The church has many days of fasting, when followers eat only vegetarian meals. One major fast lasts 40 days before Easter, during which only one vegetarian meal is allowed each day.

The church believes in the Trinity — that God is three persons in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Daily services are part of religious life, but special holy days include longer services, singing, dancing, and feasts.

Fast days

An important part of the faith is keeping many days of fasting. During these days, followers eat only vegetarian food. There are many fasting days each year. One important fast lasts 40 days before Easter, and during this time, only one vegetarian meal is allowed each day.

Monasticism

Exorcism

Biblical canon

Language

Services in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church are held in the ancient Geʽez language. In the 19th century, translations into modern languages like Amharic began, and today, sermons are often given in local languages.

Architecture

Ethiopia is famous for its rock-hewn churches, like the eleven at Lalibela. Churches often have beautiful wall paintings and are sometimes surrounded by open spaces. In rural areas, churches might have simple, thatched roofs and mud walls.

Ark of the Covenant

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church believes that one of its churches holds the original Ark of the Covenant, which was carried by Moses. Only one priest is allowed to enter the room where it is kept. Every church receives a replica of the Ark, called a tabot, which is very important in their services.

Similarities to Judaism and Islam

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has some practices that are similar to those in Judaism and Islam. For example, women cover their hair in church, and men and women sit in separate areas. People also remove their shoes before entering the church. The church also observes a day of rest on Saturday, in addition to Sunday.

Debtera

Music

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has a rich tradition of music, going back to Saint Yared. This music, called zema, includes different styles for everyday services, fasting days, and major holidays. It plays a big role in the church’s worship.

Patriarch-Catholicoi, archbishops and bishops

Patriarch-Catholicos

Since 1959, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has been led by a special leader called the Patriarch-Catholicos. This leader is also known as the Abuna and is the main head of the church. Today, the current leader is Mathias, who began his role on February 27, 2013.

Archbishops and bishops

The church has many important leaders called archbishops and bishops. Here are some of them:

Ethiopia

• Mathias, Patriarch and Head of all Archbishops of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
• Zekarias, Archbishop Of West Gojjam Zone.
• Gorgorios, Archbishop Of East Shewa.
• Athnatios, Archbishop of South Wollo and Kemise.
• Kerlos, Archbishop of North Wollo.
• Kewestos, Archbishop of North Shewa (Oromia).
• Merha-Kirstos, Archbishop Of Adigrat.
• Yonas, Former Archbishop of Afar.
• Endrias, Archbishop-Head of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Scholars Council.
• Estifanos, Archbishop of North Gondar, Jima and Yem Zone.
• Yoseph, Archbishop of Bale.
• Samuel, Archbishop of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission.
• Ezekiel, Archbishop of Kefa, Sheka and Bench Maji, Head of St Paul Theological College.
• Dioskoros, Archbishop Of Raya.
• Lukas, Archbishop of Setit Humera.
• Abraham, Archbishop of Bahir Dar City and North gojam.
• Yared, Archbishop of East Arsi.
• Henok, Archbishop of the South and West Africa.
• Embakom, Archbishop of the Head of Monasteries.
• Kelementos, Archbishop of North Shewa.
• Mathewos, Archbishop of Egypt, North Africa and East Africa.
• Sawiros, Archbishop of South West Shewa and Sheger.
• Ewstatios, Archbishop of ilu Aba Bora.
• Markos, Archbishop Of Apostolic Service and Evangelical Department.
• Entos, Archbishop Of West Harerge.
• Yohannes, Archbishop of North Gondar.
• Selama, Archbishop of West Gondar.
• Yishak, Archbishop Of Wolayta.
• Zena-markos, Archbishop Of West Arsi, Liden, Guji and Borana.
• Thomas, Archbishop Of Awi Zone and Metekel.
• Melketsedek, Archbishop Of Gurage.
• Ermias, Archbishop Of North Wollo.
• Rufael, Archbishop Of Gambela, West Wollega, East Wollega, Horo Guduru Wollega, South Sudan and Assosa.
• Gerima, Bishop of Gedio Amaro and Burji.
• Gabriel, Bishop of West Shewa.
• Timoteos, Bishop Of Dawro konta.
• Elsa, Bishop Of Somali.
• Bertelomios, Bishop of Dire Dawa.
• Ephrem, Bishop Of Buno Bedele.
• Epifanios, Bishop Of East Gurage.
• Nikodimos, Bishop of East Harerge.

Canada

• Demetrios, archbishop of Eastern Canada.
  • Mekarios, Archbishop of West Canada.

Middle East

• Dimetros, Archbishop of Middle East, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.
• Nathaniel, Archbishop Of Jerusalem.

South America

• Thaddaeus, Archbishop Of The Caribbean And Latin America.

United States

• Fanuel, Archbishop of Washington DC and its surrounding.
• Petros, Archbishop of New York and its surrounding.
• Philipos, archbishop of Pennsylvania and Head of Eyesus Church in Baltimore
• Yaekob, archbishop of Georgia and its surrounding areas
• Nathaniel, Archbishop of Minnesota and Colorado.
• Selama, archbishop of Ohio
• Sawiros, archbishop of Texas
• Theoplos, Archbishop of North California.
• Barnabas, Archbishop of South California.

Europe

• Elias, Archbishop of Nordic and Scandinavia, Greece.
• Yakob, Archbishop of United Kingdom, Ireland and Far East Countries.
• Heryakos, Archbishop of Italy and its surrounding.
• Diyonaseyos, Archbishop Of Germany and its Surrounding.

Australia & New Zealand

• Muse, Archbishop Of Australia.

Eparchies

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has many areas, called eparchies, where it serves its members.

In Ethiopia, some of these areas include Addis Ababa, Hawassa, Axum, Bahir Dar, Me'kele, Adama, Debre Berhan and many more.

Outside of Ethiopia, the church also serves members in places such as The United States, including cities like Atlanta, GA, California, New York, and Texas. It also has presence in Australia, Canada, Germany, Jerusalem, the United Kingdom, and many other countries around the world.