Video Lesson

Lesson Objectives

At the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:

• Describe the origin of Christianity.
• Explain spread of Christianity into different parts of the world
• Identify the indigenous religion with other religion
• explain the religion of Judaism ,Christianity and Islamic religion.
• describe The settlements pattern of Ethiopia and the horn .

Brainstorming Questions

• What are the major religions of Ethiopia?
• What do you know about the origin of Christianity?
• How the catholic and protestant religions were spread into Ethiopia?
• How Islamic religion introduce and spread into the Ethiopia?

Key Terms

3.2.1. The Major Religion in Ethiopia

The people of Ethiopia follow different religious practices. They practices Monotheistic religions; that is Based on the belief in one supreme God. The major religions practiced by diverse people of Ethiopia are indigenous religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

3.2.1.1 Indigenous Religion

Indigenous Religion :- are beliefs that have been native to the region and followed by the local people. Who conduct praying for rainfall, thanks giving and safety from natural hazards. For example The Waqeffanna of the Oromo is based on the existence of one Supreme Being called Waqa. Waqa’s power is Waqeffanna Revered experts, Qallu (male) and Qallitti (female) between the Ayana and the believers. Indigenous religion is its practices and beliefs are fused with Christianity and Islam.

3.2.1.2. Judaism

Judaism:has ancient roots in Ethiopia through the Bete-Israel, also known as Falasha, who are believed to descend from Israelite tribes. Residing in northwest Ethiopia, they made a significant return to Israel in the 1980s and 1990s, preserving their Jewish traditions. Their practice includes teachings from the Old Testament and liturgy in Ge’ez.-

3.3 The Rise and Spread of Christianity

Christianity : began in Palestine in the 1st century AD, rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem. Early Christians faced persecution under Emperor Nero, but in 313 AD, Emperor Constantine’s Edict of Milan granted religious tolerance. By the end of the 4th century, Emperor Theodosius I established Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Source;-Wikipedia

3.3.1. Introduction of Christianity in Ethiopia

. Christianity was introduced to Ethiopia around 330 AD by Frumentius, who converted King Ezana and his family. By the 5th century, Syrian monks known as the Nine Saints such as Abba( Aftse, Alef, Aregawi, Garima, Guba, Liqanos, Pantelewon Tsahma and Yem’ata) spread Christianity further, establishing churches and monasteries, and translating the Bible into Ge’ez.

The introduction of Christianity marked a significant development in the relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt. Patriarch Atnatewos of Alexandria consecrated Freminatos as Abuna Salam, the first bishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, initiating a tradition of sending bishops to Ethiopia that lasted until 1959, when Abune Baselios became the first Ethiopian-born Patriarch. Christianity expanded notably during the Zagwe (1150-1270) and Early Medieval periods (1270-1527), leading to the construction of many churches and monasteries, including those in Lalibela, Eritrea, and Gojjam. This expansion fostered the growth of art, literature, architecture, and music in Ethiopia, with prominent figures such as Abba Iyesus Moa and Abune Tekle-Haymanot shaping its religious and cultural landscape.

3.3.2 Introduction of Catholicism

From the mid-16th to early 17th century, Jesuit missionaries attempted to convert Ethiopian Orthodox Christians to Catholicism, but their efforts largely failed. In 1622, King Susneyos embraced Catholicism to bolster his political power, and the Portuguese Jesuit Afonso Mendes was appointed as Patriarch by Pope Urban VII. The imposition of Catholic practices led to unrest and civil war in Gondar. Consequently, Susneyos was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Emperor Fasilides, who implemented reforms to restore peace and security in Ethiopia.

The reforms of Fasiedes

• Restore Orthodox church
• He was expelled the Patriarch and the European missionaries in 1636.
• This action led to the complete closure of Ethiopia to further contact with Europeans until the early 19th century..

How ever at the opening of the 19^th C, Catholic and Protestant missionaries started evangelization activities in Ethiopia The Catholic missionaries led by Giuseppe Sapeto, Giustino De Jacobis, and Cardinal Massaja, were active. Protestant missions:- included the Anglican Church Missionary Society of London and the Wesleyan Methodist Society led by Samuel Gobat, C.W. Isenberg and J. L. Kraft were active in spreading the religion; In the early 20^th C,, the missionaries were forced to leave the regions due to the Italian occupation and returned after Italians were expelled from Ethiopia. Both Catholic and protestant missionaries made use of various means to spread Christianity.
For example,

• They translated spiritual books into first languages;

• They adopted local names for God;

• They established school ,medical centers and preached the faith etc.

3.4.3. The Rise of Islam

In the early 7th century, Islam began in Mecca with Prophet Mohammed. Facing trouble from the Quraysh tribe, he sent a group, including his r daughter, led Jafar Abu Talib to seek refuge in the Aksumite kingdom in 615 AD.”The Aksumite king, Armah Ella Seham or Al Nagesh, welcomed them warmly and gave them protection until 628 AD.”Because of this, Prophet Mohammed chose not to wage jihad against Ethiopia and maintained a friendly relationship with the Aksumite kingdom

Due to the favor of Aksumite king, Islam was introduced to the Horn through peaceful means. By Muslim clerics and merchants served as the missionaries of Islam through three main gateways. These were:

1. The Red Sea in the north,(Dahlak)
2. The Indian Ocean in the southeast.(India)
3. The Gulf of Aden in the, east (Zeila)the most important get for Islam

After the destruction of Adulis in 702 AD Muslim Arabs had occupied the Dahlak Island in 10 ^th c. But not to penetrating the interior of northern Ethiopia blc of Christianity was well-established in regions. since the mid-14^THC AD ,The port of Zeila, became the most importance to spread Islam. The Indian Ocean coast from the Somali region through the coastal towns of Mogadishu, Brava and Marca. Arabs and non-Arab Muslim merchants settle. Ethiopian Muslims maintained close links with Arabia, Egypt and Yemen through trade, pilgrimage etc.