Persecution of Orthodox Tewahedo Christianity

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The persecution of the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church has been surging over centuries.[1] The church has encountered significant challenges throughout its history. Historically, notable persecutions attributed during Yodit Gudit era in 980, Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi invasion of Ethiopian Empire during the Ethiopian-Adal War (1529–1542) and the Italian occupation of Ethiopia (1936–1941). Still, the church faces significant persecutions where many Christians are killed by government forces and churches are burnt amidst political crisis. During the tension between Ethiopian Orthodox and the illegal Oromia synod, three people killed after unknown assailants opened fire in Shashamane in Oromia on 2 February 2023. According to witness, the Oromia police was the perpetrator of the attack. It is observed during Axum massacre in the Tigray War where 750 people reportedly killed in Axum Tsion feast day celebrated on 30 November.[2][3][4]

Historical perspectives[edit]

Around 980 AD, Gudit began sacking Aksum, and burnt several thousands Ethiopian Orthodox churches and monuments before eliminating the king Dil Na'od and other monarchs of Aksumite lines.[5] The destruction of churches asserted by some Ethiopian traditions that Gudit's ethnicity was Jewish. The Ethiopian Christian and Islam tensions also major factors of the persecution, such as the Ethiopian-Adal War in 1529, where Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi destroyed after he occupied much of Shewa, Gondar, Wollo and part of Tigray. According to Ethiopian Church records, 10 Ethiopian Christians were forcefully converted to Islam as a result of Ahmad's campaign.[6] After resilient struggle of Emperor Dawit II, the Portuguese failed to assist him and he died after evicting to Debre Damo Monastery, prompting Ahmad to destroy more church properties. After the defeat of Ahmad in 1543 by Emperor Galawdewos, he began rebuilding churches and attempt to restore peace, but he was weakened by Ahmad's successors until his final death.

Catholicism activities in Ethiopia has also raised concern over anti-Ethiopian Orthodoxy in the 16th century, especially after the conversion of Emperor Susenyos I to Catholicism in 1622 and subsequent Catholic rule for a decade.[7] In 1626, the Catholic Patriarch Afonso Mendes abolished any Ethiopian Orthodox practices abroad which led to unrest.[8] The same way anti-Ethiopian Orthodox feelings were propagated throughout the Italian invasion involving mass killings of its followers and clergies. Following the Yekatit 12 massacre, the Italians massacred over 2,000 monks at Debre Libanos Monastery in 1937 ordered by Italian viceroy Rudolfo Graziani.[9] Abune Petros was amongst victims who was publicly executed by eight carabinieri in Addis Ababa in 1936.[10][11] Historian Adam Clayton Powell Jr. condemned Mussolini for trying to exterminate Orthodox Christians and doubted that the Catholics of America and of Harlem community in New York neglecting this action.[12] The Italians concerned the status of freedom of religion in the country, where the used Ethiopian Orthodox under their supervision as many of observance and rites were held in the presence of Italian officials.[13]

Contemporary era[edit]

Many churches faces significant challenges in lieu of the current political instabilities in Ethiopia, such as in Axum massacre in the Tigray War.[14][15] Arson attacks are widely reported and Orthodox leaders complained such incidents several years ago.[16] The Ethiopian government is accused of "masterminding" killings of several Christians for political purpose. For instance, three Christians were killed after unknown armed assailants opened fire in Shashamane on 2 February 2023 amidst crisis between the Ethiopian Orthodox and the illegal Oromia Region synod.[17] According to local residents, the Oromia police was the preparator of the attack.[18] The Axum massacre in late 2020 was came just before annual Axum Tsion Festival, a major Ethiopian Orthodox festival on 30 November. It was perpetuated by the Ethiopian and Eritrean joint forces after they took control of the city on 19 November according to Amnesty International.[19]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Insight, Addis (2023-02-15). "The Persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Church Followers: A Comparison to Jewish Persecution Throughout History". Addis Insight. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  2. ^ CNA. "Ethiopia massacre: Hundreds of Christians reportedly dead at Oriental Orthodox church". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  3. ^ "Were 750 Christians Really Massacred? The Truth About Ethiopia's Recent Crisis". Religion Unplugged. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  4. ^ "Massacre 'of 750' reported in Aksum church complex, Tigray, Ethiopia". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  5. ^ "The Queen of the Habasha in Ethiopian History, Tradition and Chronology on JSTOR". www.jstor.org. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  6. ^ "A leap of faith - Al-Ahram Weekly". www.islamawareness.net. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  7. ^ "The Ethiopian Catholic Church". CNEWA. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  8. ^ Shinn, David H.; Ofcansky, Thomas P. (2013-04-11). Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia. Scarecrow Press. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-8108-7457-2.
  9. ^ Ademe, Solomon Molla; Ali, Mohammed Seid (2023-03-01). "Foreign intervention and legacies in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church". Heliyon. 9 (3): e13790. Bibcode:2023Heliy...913790A. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13790. ISSN 2405-8440. PMC 9981915. PMID 36873546.
  10. ^ huconedit (2022-10-03). "The Ethiopian Genocide and the Rise of Abune Petros | Hungarian Conservative". www.hungarianconservative.com. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  11. ^ Larebo, Haile Mariam (1988). "The Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Politics in the Twentieth Century: Part Ii". Northeast African Studies. 10 (1): 1–23. ISSN 0740-9133. JSTOR 43661167.
  12. ^ Plummer, Brenda Gayle (2000-11-09). Rising Wind: Black Americans and U.S. Foreign Affairs, 1935-1960. Univ of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-6386-2.
  13. ^ Shenk, Calvin E. (1972). "The Italian Attempt to Reconcile the Ethiopian Orthodox Church: the use of religious celebrations and assistance to churches and monasteries". Journal of Ethiopian Studies. 10 (1): 125–135. ISSN 0304-2243. JSTOR 41965850.
  14. ^ "Were Orthodox Christians massacred in Ethiopia?". America Magazine. 2021-01-29. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  15. ^ "'Horrible': Witnesses recall massacre in Ethiopian holy city". AP News. 2021-02-18. Archived from the original on February 18, 2021. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  16. ^ "Three Killed in Attacks on Ethiopian Orthodox Church, According to Report". VOA. 2023-02-04. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  17. ^ "Three Christians Killed by Government Forces in Ethiopia". International Christian Concern. 2023-02-06. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  18. ^ Admin (2022-01-21). "Oromia police killed at least three Orthodox church followers during epiphany celebration in Addis Ababa". Borkena Ethiopian News. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  19. ^ "Eritrean troops massacre hundreds of civilians in Axum, Ethiopia". Amnesty International. 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
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