Christianity flourished in Northern Africa during the first few centuries after Christ’s crucifixion on the cross. St. Mark was among the many missionaries who brought Christianity into the region.
However, it was Sts. Edesius and Frumentius who made a more lasting impact upon Ethiopia and laid a firm foundation.
Kingdom of Aksum
During the 4th century, the modern-day regions of Eritrea and Northern Ethiopia were ruled by the Kingdom of Aksum. It was one of the major empires in the ancient world and existed for many centuries.
The Catholic Encyclopedia explains how the brothers were captured and initially were slaves in the kingdom:
When still mere boys they accompanied their uncle Metropius on a voyage to Abyssinia. When their ship stopped at one of the harbours of the Red Sea, people of the neighbourhood massacred the whole crew, with the exception of Edesius and Frumentius, who were taken as slaves to the King of Axum.
They became favored slaves of the king and eventually gained their freedom. Their example helped spread Christianity in the kingdom.
When they were older, they went back to their homeland and were ordained priests. Edesius did not return to Aksum, but Frumentius did, as a bishop:
When the prince came of age Edesius returned to his friends and relatives at Tyre and was ordained priest, but did not return to Abyssinia. Frumentius, on the other hand, who was eager for the conversion of Abyssinia, accompanied Edesius as far as Alexandria, where he requested St. Athanasius to send a bishop and some priests to Abyssinia. St. Athanasius considered Frumentius himself the most suitable person for bishop and consecrated him in 328, according to others between 340-46.
When he returned to Aksum, Frumentius established his new diocese and built many churches throughout the kingdom.
The local people valued his presence and, “called him Abuna (Our Father) or Abba Salama (Father of Peace), titles still given to the head of the Abyssinian Church.”
Furthermore, “Abyssinian tradition credits him with the first Ethiopian translation of the New Testament.”
The current Roman Martyrology recognizes St. Frumentius on July 20.
