Early History of the Ethiopian Orthodox
Tewahedo Church
1. Introduction
Christianity may have reached Ethiopia as early as the 1st century AD. According to the
Book of Acts 8:26–40, an Ethiopian eunuch—a royal official—was baptized by Philip the
Evangelist. Ethiopian tradition holds that this eunuch brought Christianity to his homeland,
laying the foundation for later developments.
2. Frumentius and the Royal Court of Aksum
In the early 4th century, two Syrian Christian brothers, Frumentius and Aedesius, were
shipwrecked and taken to the royal court of the Aksumite Kingdom. They were trusted by
the king and became tutors to the prince, Ezana. After the king’s death, Frumentius
encouraged Christianity and later traveled to Alexandria, Egypt, to request a bishop for
Ethiopia.
3. Conversion of King Ezana
Around 330 AD, King Ezana was baptized by Frumentius, making Ethiopia one of the first
nations to officially adopt Christianity. Ezana declared Christianity the state religion of
Aksum. This event marks the official beginning of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
4. Appointment of Abune Selama
In response to Frumentius’s request, Patriarch St. Athanasius of Alexandria appointed him
as bishop of Aksum. Frumentius returned to Ethiopia with the name Abune Selama (Father
of Peace), becoming the first head of the Ethiopian Church. This also established a long-
standing ecclesiastical link between Ethiopia and the Coptic Church of Alexandria.
5. Theological Identity and Council of Chalcedon
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church embraced Miaphysite theology, which holds that Christ has
one united divine-human nature. In 451 AD, the Church rejected the Council of Chalcedon,
which declared the dual nature of Christ. As a result, the Ethiopian Church became part of
the Oriental Orthodox communion along with the Coptic, Armenian, and Syriac Churches.
6. Timeline of Key Events
• 1st Century – Ethiopian eunuch baptized by Philip the Evangelist
• Early 4th Century – Frumentius and Aedesius arrive in Aksum
• c. 330 AD – King Ezana converts and declares Christianity the state religion
• c. 340 AD – Frumentius appointed bishop (Abune Selama)
• 451 AD – Ethiopian Church rejects the Council of Chalcedon
