New Church of St. Mary of Zion: First church in the first Christian kingdom (Part -1)

By Asad Russel – 

About the New Church of St. Mary of Zion, Axum, Ethiopia:
In Axum the Church of St. Mary of Zion of the 17th century in Ethiopia is the most sacred shrine, the Ark of the Covenant housing to the chapel next door which stands. There is a larger and newer church nearby, as the St. Mary of Zion which also called.

The history of the New Church of St. Mary of Zion:
Although is new relatively the present building, ancient roots impressively has the Church of St. Mary of Zion. On the Red Sea coast shipwrecked by the two Syrian monks in Christianity was instructed the Axumite prince Ezana in the 4th century. King Ezana when he became the Christianity promoted the prince, and in both the Catholic churches and Ethiopian Orthodox as a saint he is regarded.

In the 300 AD this time around it was, in the Axum was first built that is the Church of St. Mary of Zion. For hundreds of years stood this church and in the 16th century its destruction shortly before by a Portuguese friar was seen. In the journal wrote this Francisco Alvarez. For the Bet Medhane Alem as the model served in Axum this great church believe some experts, in Lalibela among the rock carved churches which is the most impressive one.

In the world the first Christian kingdom was the Axum and the Roman Empire outside the largest one. To Arabia, Egypt and Nubia on the routes of caravan trade was situated, as Constantinople, Greece and Rome as far away traded the Axum.

From the Eastern Roman Empire fleeing through missionaries to the general populace the royal family beyond was spread the Christianity in the later 5th century. By the Council of Chalcedon in 451 heretical it was branded after of Christ’s nature to the Monophysite adhered the missionaries, still today the part of the Coptic Orthodox Christianity and Ethiopian Orthodox which remains a doctrine.

A great military power made the Axum the King Kaled who was also known as the St. Kaleb in the 6th century and including the Arabia in this region for the Christians of protector on the role took. In Arabia several Jewish Kingdom which were small conquered the Kaleb in Arabia, into the Ethiopian Christianity of Jewish customs to the incorporation which led still today what can be seen.

On the ruins of the church by the Muslims what had been destroyed by the Emperor Fasilidas was reconstructed the Church of St. Mary of Zion in 1635.in the east from Harar across the Horn of Africa had swept the Left Handed of Ahmed Gragn the forces, of Ethiopian Christendom the extinction threatening for a time.

For the Ethiopians of its meaning an important part has become of the church the destruction and the rebuilding. By the Islamic countries surrounded, several times overrun, and of extinction to the brink brought, against Islam as a bastion regards itself the Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.

Will Continue……..

Posted by : Unknown 7:47 PM Tags : Travel Destinations

Subscribe by Email

Follow Updates Articles from This Blog via Email