The Ethiopian Church Journal Blog

Christian Art: Icons, Wall Paintings and Manuscripts By Dr. Richard Pankhurst The Coming of Christianity Ethiopia was one of the first countries in the world to adopt the Christian faith. Local tradition holds that this conversion occurred as early as at the time of the Apostles. Be that as it may, we know that King Ezana of the Aksumite kingdom, in what is now the northern highlands of Ethiopia, issued coins bearing the Cross of Christ already around 330AD. The Aksum realm was indeed the first in the world to strike money with this device. Ezana also erected several inscriptions, which seem to confirm that the conversion to Christianity took place during or around to the time of his reign. Ethiopia’s conversion, according to Byzantine author Rufinus, whose account is near contemporary, and apparently worthy of credence, was carried out by Frumentius, a Greek-speaking youth from Syria. Shipwrecked off the Red Sea coast of Africa, he was taken to Aksum, the capital of the Aksumite realm...

  The Simien Mountains ስሜን ተራራ in northern Ethiopia rise to 4,550 meters (14,928 feet) above sea level

  Precious Angel Written by: Bob Dylan Precious angel, under the sun How was I to know you’d be the one To show me I was blinded, to show me I was gone How weak was the foundation I was standing upon? Now there’s spiritual warfare and flesh and blood breaking down Ya either got faith or ya got unbelief and there ain’t no neutral ground The enemy is subtle, how be it we are so deceived When the truth’s in our hearts and we still don’t believe? Shine your light, shine your light on me Shine your light, shine your light on me Shine your light, shine your light on me Ya know I just couldn’t make it by myself I’m a little too blind to see My so-called friends have fallen under a spell They look me squarely in the eye and they say, “All is well” Can they imagine the darkness that will fall from on high When men will beg God to kill them and they won’t be able to die? Sister, lemme tell you about a vision I saw You were drawing water for your husband, you were su...

  emerald cuckoo, Ethiopia

HaileSelassie's Band of Armenian Orphans A bond forged through a common Orthodox faith left a lasting imprint on Ethiopia’s music Irina Costache |  October 10, 2025 The 40 Armenian orphans with their leader, Kevork Nalbandian , in the middle holding a violin. (From the archives of St. George Armenian Apostolic Church in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia) In the spring of 1924, Ras Tafari Makonnen, Ethiopia’s crown prince, regent plenipotentiary and de facto ruler, embarked on a diplomatic world tour. His country had just become the first African nation admitted to the League of Nations, and the prince (later to become Emperor Haile Selassie ) wanted to thank the countries that had supported Ethiopia’s candidacy, display his country’s modernity and ensure its sovereignty would be respected. Before continuing toward Europe, Tafari made a stop in Jerusalem. Back home, the Ethiopian Church questioned the prince’s religious devotion, so the visit was meant to be a symbolic demonstra...

Painting by major Ethiopian artist uncovered by Scottish art historian – in Oklahoma Tuesday 11 June 2024 One of the last artworks by a major Ethiopian artist has been uncovered by an art historian from the University of St Andrews in Scotland during a research trip to Oklahoma. Dr Kate Cowcher made the surprise discovery of the painting by Gebre Kristos Desta at the council offices in Lawton, Oklahoma, alongside Professor Emily Burns from the University of Oklahoma. Gebre Kristos, as he was known, was a revered artist who was at the heart of the rich cultural scene known as the ‘Addis Spring’. He had escaped Ethiopia in 1979, after a revolution had turned violent, arriving in Oklahoma as a refugee in spring 1980, hosted by a Catholic church in Lawton. Dr Cowcher, a lecturer in the School of Art History in St Andrews, had travelled to Lawton as part of h...