The Birth of Christianity in Africa & the Aksumite Empire
The Aksumite Empire which is situated in modern day Ethiopia was the genesis of the Christian faith in Africa. Oral tradition states that a Syrian ship on an expedition to spread Christianity was sailing in Aksumite waters when it was captured by the Aksumite army. It is believed that this took place around the 4th century. Everyone on board was killed except for the 2 children Frumentius and Edesius. The children were then taken as servants to the Axumite King Ella Amida.
One of the captured servants became a cup-bearer (Frumentius) and the other an assistant to the King. Frumentius who had been trained in Christian faith is believed to have converted the Aksumite King to the faith. The King’s conversion led to Christianity being declared the religion of the Aksumite Kingdom. Upon the death of King Ella Amida, Frumentius became the tutor to the future King Ezana. King Ezana was also converted to Christianity. Ella Amida’s son Ezana is best known in history as the Aksumite King who invaded the Kingdom of Cush.
Frumentius is now considered the first Bishop of Aksum. He is also known as Abuna or Aba Salama. While working for the King, Frumentius traveled to Alexandria where he pleaded with the Christian church for more missionaries to evangelize the people of Aksum. The Byzantine Roman Emperor at the time Constantius II sought to have Frumentius expelled from Aksum because he did not accept the false teaching of the Roman Church which did not believe in the divinity of Christ. Constantius II believed in the deceitful demonic doctrine of the Aryans that denied the divinity of Christ.
King Ezana had a good comprehension of the biblical text and denounced the Aryan teachings and held onto the orthodox Christian teachings and preserved the integrity of Christianity. His decision is viewed as one of the most important in the spread of authentic Christianity across the continent. Aksumite coins began to carry the Christian inscription to emphasize how important the religion had become to the society. Aksum became one of the most important centers for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
