Mereja Forum

[Selam/]

The Story of Frumentius

In the early 4th century, a ship filled with Roman traders from Syria landed at an Ethiopian port for fresh water and supplies. The locals were hostile to Roman citizens, so they massacred everyone on the ship except for two people, including a Christian boy named Frumentius.

Frumentius was brought before the king at Aksum. He found favor with the king, who made the boy an administrator in his court. Frumentius heard about other Christians living in the kingdom, so he got permission to hold Christian worship services in the capital. According to church history, Frumentius led many people to Jesus Christ.

When the king died suddenly, he left his infant son as heir to the throne. Frumentius served as regent of the kingdom until the young prince was old enough to rule. In that time, Frumentius led his young ward, King Ezana, to faith in Christ.

Once King Ezana came of age and took over kingdom duties, Frumentius traveled north to Alexandria, Egypt, to connect with the large Christian community there. In the fourth century, Alexandria was one of the world’s foremost centers of the Christian faith. While visiting the region, Frumentius established a relationship with the Bishop of Alexandria — Athanasius.

Athanasius, the Patriarch of Alexandria during much of the fourth century, was a towering figure in early Christianity—a theologian, church father, and chief defender of doctrine. In time, Frumentius asked Athanasius to send missionaries to Aksum since the people there were ready for the Gospel.

Realizing Frumentius was already fluent in the language of the Ethiopian people, Athanasius ordained Frumentius as the first bishop of the Ethiopian Church in 330 AD and sent him back to Aksum with a number of Coptic Christian missionaries. From that point forward, the Gospel began spreading throughout Central Africa. In turn, King Ezana declared Christianity the official religion of the Aksumite Kingdom of Ethiopia.

[Fiyameta]

REST IN PEACE TO THE 950 TEGARU VICTIMS.

[Selam/]