At a press conference at the Sheraton Kingston Hotel, His Holiness Abuna Theophilos, the patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, discussed the church's history and development. He traced its origins to 330 A.D., emphasising its establishment in Ethiopia long before European Christianity and its deep-rooted monotheistic beliefs. The church's close collaboration with the State and the emperor's role as defender of the faith were highlighted.

Published Friday, June 8, 1973

Development of church outlined by Patriarch

The historical development and other aspects of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church were outlined at a Sheraton Kingston Hotel press conference yesterday by His Holiness Abuna Theophilos, patriarch and spiritual leader of the movement.

Speaking in Amharic, which was translated to newsmen by an interpreter, His Holiness traced the beginning of the church to 330 A.D. when the first bishop was consecrated.

From then on, a long, uninterrupted line of bishops have been taking over the spiritual leadership of the church.

The church, he claimed, had been established in Ethiopia long before the Europeans had begun teaching Christianity.

The development of the church had its roots established long before the Ethiopians had begun believing in the concept of monotheism (the existence of one God).

Groundwork

“Thus the groundwork had already been laid, all the ingredients were already there, and on that basis, the Christian development took place,” the patriarch said.

In Ethiopia, the emperor was regarded as defender of the faith, and the coronation was usually presided over by the bishop or patriarch of the church.

It is the practice of the church and the State there to work together closely to keep the faith of the people alive, he said.

Membership of the church had risen to about 20 million, and shrines and monasteries had been established in Jerusalem and also in South America and the Caribbean.

In addition, the church had been receiving many requests for membership from several black countries.

Answering a question posed by a reporter about the church’s stand on the clamour of local members, mostly Rastafarians, for repatriation to Ethiopia, His Holiness was non-committal.

“We would love to see them (local members) in Ethiopia. We would also like to see them in Jamaica,” he replied.

On being further questioned, he said that there was need for more understanding by Jamaicans of Ethiopia, both in terms of the language of the country and the customs of the country.

The first step in this respect would be to establish some sort of school to teach those interested about Ethiopia.

They should then be allowed to make their decision individually on whether to go to Ethiopia.

Church

There was no doubt that a school for this purpose would be attached to the church, which the movement would be building in the island, His Holiness said.

Questioned about his view on the claim of local Rastafarians that Haile Selassie, the Ethiopian emperor, was God, the patriarch was equally non-committal.

“It is unfair to take one aspect of the Rastafarian movement and make a judgment,” he said. "I would rather reserve my opinion on that subject until I have had an opportunity to study the movement completely.”

Questioned on the reason for laying the priority on the church’s expansion in areas other than Africa, His Holiness cited as reasons the impediments involved such as communication barriers plus the anti-Christ nature of several nations bordering Ethiopia and the resentment of the colonial forces to spread Christianity.

“However, we are making rigorous efforts now in expanding the church in Africa because the climate is improving.”

The patriarch said that the church would still continue after the death of Emperor Selassie.”It has been going on for many years and will continue even after our emperor’s death,” he asserted.

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