Christianity
After the birth of Christ, it did not
take Aksumites long to embrace Christianity. As a state religion,
Christianity was adopted in the fourth century AD well before several
European realms. Christianity found its footings when Frumentius – the
Syrian boy who later become Ethiopia’s first bishop – converted King
Ezana of Ethiopia to Christendom. Soon Aksumites constructed the
original church dedicated to St. Mary of Zion, the first in sub-Saharan
Africa and perhaps one of the earliest and most revered churches in the
world. Aksum then became an oasis of Christianity in a region dominated
by pagans. After its destruction in the 16th century by the Ahmed Gragn,
two cathedrals were built in the 17th and 20th centuries on each side
of the ruins of the old. Aksum is now graced by these two cathedrals as
well as by the nearby Chapel that houses the Ark. Depicting the
architectural style of its time, the older church is adorned wall to
wall by magnificent murals. Built in 1965 by Emperor Haile Selassie and
inaugurated in the presence of Queen Elizabeth of England, the new
cathedral is a dome-shaped edifice of modern architectural vibrancy.
Most venerated of all places of worship in the country, St. Mary of
Aksum serves as the fountain of Christians from far and near who beg for
mercy and redemption.
The church also served as a venue of
secular activities. The location known at Tsef Tsef was a site where
royal judgments were passed, mediations were arranged and even protests
were held. It was also a site of imperial function, where Ethiopia’s
powerful king of kings bowed, seeking blessing from the clergy and
legitimacy from the polity. Several past Ethiopian emperors had to
temporarily abandon their thrones and desert their capital cities so as
to hold elaborate coronation ceremonies in St. Mary of Zion – the mother
of all churches! ve to prove it to anyone. You want to believe, it’s
your privilege. If you don’t want to believe, it’s your own privilege
again… It is here and we believe it.” (Munro Hay 2005:39).
ምንም አስተያየቶች የሉም:
አስተያየት ይለጥፉ