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If Ethiopia did not become a Christian Nation, Islam would have spread from
the eastern shores of Africa across the entire 37,500 miles of the African
continent to the western shores of Africa.We will analyze how Islam and
Christianity are so interwoven into countries in Africa the history of Africa
cannot
be told unless historians include parts of other countries history as well, this
is
precisely, why it is inconceivable the history of other nations like Rome can be
told without mentioning what contributions the Africans made to their history,
Africans history are tired to other nations history around the world, a good
example is Ethiopia history, it cannot be told unless you include Arabia history
the history of Rome, Jeruslem, Asia minor, India, Spain and China.
Let us now take a peep at Ethiopia thousand years war and only a faction of
its
history, how Ethiopia first became a Christian nation is found in the Kebar
Nagast, translated to mean Glory of the Kings scriptures by the Ethiopians kings,
these are Ethiopian religious chronicles that have been around since the time of
queen of Sheba, legends of the queen of Sheba are common throughout Africa,
Arabia, Persia, Ethiopia and Israel in Arabian tradition, many of the Arabic
folklore about the queen involve magic carpets ride and talking birds one tale
said
Balkis, meaning the queen ruled with the heart of a woman the head and hands of
a man, Islamic stories portray Solomon as marrying the queen, in contrast to the
bible, they portray her abandoning her gods and converting to the God of the
Israelites, Arabian folklore the Qu'ran present fanciful stories of the Queen
Sheba, several Jewish legends which developed in post-Biblical times also
present dubious accounts of the queen and Solomon, though many of her
challenges to Solomon are believable, in the targum Sheni, the Midrash Mishle
and the Midrash Hachefez are similar to Islamic tales, and likewise unconvincing,
here again as in Arabic the legends of the Queen, is about her encountering a
talking hoopoe bird, in another legend she is described sending Solomon six
thousand boys and girls all born the same hour, the same day, same month and
same year, all of equal size and dressed in identical purple garments.
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A more realistic portraits of the queen of Sheba appear in the Bible and in
the
Kebra the Ethiopians religious chronicles or scriptures, according to Ethiopian
legend, she was born in 1020 BC in Ophir, off the African shore of the Red sea,
Ophir is a Hebrew name, she was educated in Ethiopia, her mother name was
queen Ismenie; her father was chief minister to king Za Sebado and succeeded the
throne after his death.
One story describes her as a child. It say at one time Sheba, called Makeda
was to be sacrificed to a serpent god, but was rescued by the stranger Angaboo,
later, it says her pet jackal bit her badly on one foot and leg, leaving lasting
scars
and deformity, in 1035 BC, her father died Sheba became queen at age of fifteen,
contradictory to legends refer to her as ruling for forty years, and reigning as a
virgin queen for six years, in most accounts, she never married. Sheba was known
to be a beautiful black African woman, despite her ankle and leg deformity.
She was intelligent, understanding, resourceful, adventurous a gracious
queen,
she had a melodious voice and was an eloquent speaker, she was excellent in
public relations and international diplomacy, she was also well known as a
competent ruler, the historian Josephus said of her, she was inquisitive in
philosophy and on that and on other accounts also was she to be admired, power
and riches could not satisfy the queen's studious soul, she possessed an ardent
hunger for truth and wisdom, before her visit to Solomon, she wrote the following
psalms to her people. I desire wisdom and my heart seeketh to find understanding.
I am smitten with love of wisdom, for wisdom is far better than treasure of
gold and silver, It is sweeter than honey, and it maketh one to rejoice more than
wine, and it illuminates more than the sun, it is a source of joy for the heart,
and a
bright and shining light for the eyes, and a giver of speed to the feet, and a
shield
for the breast, and a helmet for the head, It makes the ears to hear and hearts to
understand, as for a kingdom, it cannot stand without wisdom, and riches cannot
be preserved without wisdom, he who heapeth up gold and silver doeth so to no
profit without wisdom, but he who heapeth up wisdom.
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How Ethiopia became a Christian Nation
No man can filch it from his heart, I will follow the footprints of wisdom
and
she shall protect me forever, I will seek asylum with her, and she shall be unto
me
power and strength. Let us seek her, and we shall find her; let us love her, and
she
will not withdraw her self from us, let us pursue her, and we shall overtake her;
let us ask, and we shall receive; and let us turn our hearts to her so that we may
never forget her, in another section of the chronicles taken from the first book
of
Kings holy Bible, 10 - 13, it says after the queen visit Solomon she returned to
Ethiopia.
The conversion of how Ethiopia became a Christian nation came as the
results of an accident. Constantine the great made Christianity the official
religion
of Rome in about 330 AD, the Phoenicians were the first to knit the
Mediterranean Sea into a trading state master seafarers of far antiquity,
symbolically speaking, they were well know in their time and in that time in
history for some they were known as greedy rogues, the Bible praised their ships
of oak and cedar as works of art that sing. The conversion was the direct results
of
Phoenician Christians traders becoming ship wrecked in the Red Sea.
In about AD 332, a small ship carrying a number of Phoenician fishermen
traveling northward in the Red Sea became strained, it was perhaps due to fate or
you can say, most likely misfortune, this same year these traders were
shipwrecked.
They were caught in a powerful storm as they entered the Gulf of Aden, off
southern shores of Yemen, which is in Saudi Arabia, the strong winds toss the
small ship many miles off its main coast, some of the survivors were fished from
the waters by Ethiopian pirates. Among the captives were two young brothers the
sons of a Christian leader whose name was Merobius, at the time of the shipwreck
the Ethiopians were at war with Rome, the African state was holding out strongly
against the new crusade for Christianity. After pulling the Phoenician survivors
out of the waters the Ethiopian pirates had them all form a straight line on the
beach, the leader of the pirates while walking in front of the line to evaluate
their
condition, he notice most of them wearing a small metal cross around their neck,
recognizing the sign of the cross and knowing that it was a symbol for
Christianity.
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He had their hands bind behind their back had the Phoenicians kneel with
their
heads bowing toward the ground, while his strongest men held their swords on the
back of their necks awaiting further orders, from the beginning of the line the
leader approached each individual crewman, he gave each one a choice, they can
deny the sign of the cross and deny their faith or they can die, each of the brave
crewmen choose the latter, they were all killed, accept for the two young lads,
the
sons of the Christian leader Merobius who had sent the lads on the journey for the
adventure, when the leader of the pirates saw the boys, they were placed at the
end of the line, the executioners looked uneasy they didn’t want to decapitate the
young lads as they had done with the other crew members.
He decided he would take the young lads to the palace to let the Ethiopian
king decide their fate, when they were presented to king Ameda, he became aware
immediately, of the fact the younger lad was around the same age as his own son,
he noticed that the boy was calm and contented, the king asked him what was his
name, when the boy replied telling king Ameda his name, he then confessed his
faith stating I am a Christian the same time he grasp a cross which was hanging
from around his neck, this compel the king to have mixed emotions, he felt pity
for the young lad, at the same time he felt a bit of admiration for him, for the
boy
strong stance in upholding his faith, the king decided to spare their life and
instead he took them into his household to work as servants. The brave young lad
name was Frumentius as time passed he convert the king son to Christianity, the
younger lad became tutor to the king’s son.
At that time the son had just been crowned prince, his name was prince
Ezana,
as the young lad, Frumentius taught the prince about the Christian faith,
ultimately, the sixteen year old prince began teaching the doctrine, now prince
Ezana, Frumentius and his older brother, whose name was Adesius began to make
other young converts they were all around the same age, prince Ezana was so
impressed he became a better oracle of the faith, than the two brothers
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He had a large room cleared out in the palace in which he put in columns of flat
benches six feet long, with a small pedestal setup in front center to teach the
Christian doctrine, they had regular Sunday mass, on Friday evenings have
Rosary and they had confessions every Saturday in a booth sat up inside the room.
although, none of them were ordained the younger lad was an Alter boy and he
imitated the priest in Rome and did everything exactly, as they done from
memory, the young lad was able to recite many verses of Bible scripture in which
became Ethiopia religious chronicles this very day, two and a half years the
brothers lived in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian citizens were coming from near and far
to hear the word, finally, one day out of nowhere, the prince called for them and
said they are free to leave Ethiopia and return back to their homeland in
Phoenicia, an ancient city outside of Greece and told them his guards would
accompany them and see that they have all that is necessary for a safe journey
back home.
When they returned Roman Emperor Constantine sent for them, their efforts
teaching the Christian faith to the heathens in Africa had spread to parts of
Europe, the emperor was so impressed when he heard their story he told them to
return to Ethiopia, this time he aided them with other priests from the church and
in the future, a few years later, the head of the church at that time St.
Athanasius,
made the younger lad a bishop when he came of age, now a few years later they
were returning back to Ethiopia with many gifts and aides from the catholic
church in Rome, returning in peace. Bishop Frumentius and his older brother
established the first Christ Coptic church in Ethiopia. king Ezana, the crown
prince was now the king of Ethiopia he gave them and Christianity his full
support, young people they first taught were now also adults and many of them
helped to spread the religious teachings to other Ethiopian citizens and the whole
nation of Ethiopia converted.
When the crowned prince became an adult and king Ezana reign over
Ethiopia, the two brothers bishop Frumentius and his older brother archbishop
Adesius returned there with a large expedition, the entire country became the
greatest Christian nation on the whole continent of Africa.
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He threw the bones onto the main roadway where everyone can see them,
saint Paul was known as the patron saint of the Yemenite Christians church there,
he dug a gigantic hole in the ground and had twenty thousand faithful Christians
put to death, he burned them alive inside the cavern, which was transformed to
look more like a furnace. The despairing Christians living in Yemen kept sending
missions to Rome to consult with Justinian, who was then the Roman Emperor at
Constantinopole, the Christians bagged him to come to their rescue.
Emperor Justinian was moved by the recitals and messages sent by the
Christians in Yemen, he remembered previous Roman in Arabia defeats due to
Rome awkward geographical position, the Romans could not go into the hot
tremendous Arabian desert with the necessary forces and equipment they would
need, their inability to get a sufficient number of regiments, supplies, cavalry,
20
ft. high catapults and arrow launchers across the Arabian desert.
It was equally hard to haul everything they need by way of the Red sea, he
did
not want to send another expedition and fail he wrote a heartfelt letter to the
Patriarch, who was head of the Christ Coptic church in Alexandria asking his
advice, the latter suggested an appeal to Emperor Elesbaan the emperor of
Ethiopia. Justinian accordingly, sent his envoys to Ethiopia, the Ethiopians
received the Romans in Ethiopia for the first time in history, mounted on a gold
trimmed chariot with four wheels and scythes of gold, drawn by four trained
elephants. Elesbaan welcomed the expedition into his country, on his nude dusky
black torso, hanging from around his neck glittered ornaments of pure gold and
rare gems, his arms ringed with heavy gold and jeweled bracelets, his head was
swathe in a turban of fine linen, it was fasten by a gold pin and a brooch full of
large gems, around his waist a rich ornamented gold buckle, he held a spear in his
right hand, riding on the chariot looking straight ahead and at attention.
Later that same day at an evening mass he promised in his sermon that he
will
do all in his power to aide the Christians in Yemen, by that he meant Ethiopia
would be going to war, emperor Elesbaan promised to aide the Christian
Yemenites being persecuted in southern Arabia.
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The Judaizers leader Dhu Nowas murdered twenty thousand Christians setting
them ablaze in a cavern furnace. Emperor Elesbaan gave orders to his chief
commander Abraha to assemble an army of seventy thousand warriors, Rome sent
twenty thousand fighters he included a fleet of one hundred and fifty ships and
gave Abraha orders to go to Yemen do whatever it takes to save the Christians
from being condemn by the Judeians authorities, as the commander was crossing
the Red sea.
Commander Dhu Nowas positioned his men along the beach awaiting his
ships to draw nearer to land. Dhu Nowas with a slightly, small army ordered his
men to open fire before the fleets could reach shore Abraha being accustomed to
controlling large work teams, kept pushing his fleets through the fierce dark
clouds of explosions, he arranged the ships in a M formation with his ship being
the one in the center, the first ships that came close to shore took the bulk of
the
cannons fire.
Just as Abraha had planned Dhu Nowas ran low on ammo before his ship and
the other ships in back of the formation could reach shore, Dhu Nowas trying to
save ammo until the ships came closer, allowed the Ethiopians to hurry in get
aboard rowboats in the confusion he was not sure which boats or ships to take
aim, after a long and hard struggle, Abraha and his army reached the shores and a
great battle was fought on the beach, the account which historians would write
later, read similar to when Caesar landed on the coast of Britain, like all large
battles on the beach the blood had turn the sands red, even the waves that washed
upon the shores were bloody if this is how the Red sea got its name on this
particular day there could not be a more accurate description.
They fought for hours from darn till dusk, at last Abraha came out
victorious,
over twelve thousand Judaizers were killed in the triumphant, the Ethiopians
captured Zhafar taking prisoners and killing the severe wounded who couldn’t
walk, among the prisoners were one of commander Dhu Nowas favorite wives.
Abraha sent a message to Du Nowas telling him to surrender, after Du Nowas
received the message, he rallied his forces and went into battle again.
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This time he was wounded badly on his right hand and knee his troops were
now faced with total defeat, realizing this was a sign that his luck had run out
completely, he threw himself from a cliff onto the sharp rocks in the sea, now
Abraha claimed himself to be ruler of Yemen, without getting consent from the
emperor Elesbaan, without notice he had all the prisoners he had taken captive
executed and put to death all the known leaders of the Judaizers, he ordered his
men to ravage and plunder the villages.
He seized all the wealth of the country and within the same year he re-
built
the church in Zhafar for reasons that is obvious, Abraha actions indeed aroused
the displeasure of Emperor Elesbaan, the Emperor was ashamed that his chief
commander had not conducted himself as a true Christian after the victory, he
thought it unnecessary that he had innocent people killed, he sent a personal hand
written letter to Abraha.
Have you forgotten that Christians suffered this same kind of subjugation,
demoralization and triarchy, yet, your sins are not forgiven you because you and
your men continue to rape women and degrade the helpless victims in the
villages even after the enemy of our faith has been defeated, Abraha really could
not think of a good reason to justify his behavior he sent a short reply, saying
the
first thing that came to mind, be it now, I rule Yemen, it shall be cleanse of all
do
not practice the Christian faith and those Christians live here will be happy and
free of tyrant authority forever, this answer did not please the Emperor, it was
like
chasing the wind it did not make sense.
The Emperor appointed a Christian Arab, named Abrahaim governor for
Yemen, to replace Abraha, when Abraha heard the news he revolted and
gathering a large army, he declared he would not give up Yemen without a fight,
the new appointee formed a large army and marched toward Zhafar to meet them,
when the forces met facing one another their troops remained at ease while the
two leaders galloped on their horses to meet each other half way.
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99
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Although the legend does not suggest this was a miracle and any way, but
because the elephant did not move it was in no way in Al Arshum and his army
favor, suddenly, a roar, joy went up from the Arabians, they saw it as a sign
from
God their sacred city is to be preserved, now with a wave of confidence they
started rushing the Ethiopians, Meccans attacked them such frenzy, throwing
rocks and making loud noises the elephant stamped away not long after this the
rout of the Ethiopian Christians out of Yemen would be final and complete.
Al Arshum returned to Ethiopia, where he later died of smallpox , his
elephant
refusal to enter Mecca is called the era of the Elephant, one other event is
placed
above it in importance, the birth of prophet Mohammed, may he rest in peace, the
stubborn elephant is regarded as having foreshadowed the birth of the prophet the
event occurred a year apart the elephant incident occurred AD 569 and the
prophet was born AD 570.
According to Arab historians God himself attacked the forces of Al Arshum
turned the elephant into a statue momentarily, other Arab writers say that God
sent thousands of little birds from the sea. Each with a stone in which was graven
the name of an Ethiopian soldier to bombard the enemy, that because of this Al
Arshum died a horrorable death, he rotted away and his limbs fell apart, all this
of
course is a poetic rendering of the account of the sandstorm, plague of small-pox
and abuse he committed against their Faith in the one hundred and fifth chapter of
the Muslims holy book the Qu’ran.
It reads, God sent myriad of birds soaring over their heads, who threw
down
upon them stones graven with the celestial vengeance, the infidels were cut down
like corn by the reaper, they later used Al Arshum attack on their sacred city as
justification for an attack not only on the Ethiopians in Yemen but for a campaign
against the Christians in Ethiopia, the thousand year war started between the
Arab Meccans and the African Ethiopians, thirty three years after the death of Al
Arshum, the Ethiopian inhabitants of Yemen were driven back across the Red sea,
Christianity brief days in Arabia was over.
An author named Gibson, emphasizes the universal significance of Al Arshum
defeat in his book, decline and fell of the Roman Empire.
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They will make lions, hyenas and other predators chase them away from the
eggs nest the early explorers did not know this nor did they know an ostrich is
near-sighted, this is the reason they have long necks and legs, to see predators
when they are sneaking up on them, the ostrich would look up toward the
direction of the predator, sometime will not see the danger coming, then start
digging for roots again, to the early explorers it seemed as though the ostrich
saw
the predator than tried to bury or hide their heads in the ground or sand.
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How Ethiopia became a Christian Nation
For hundreds of years and even in this present day scientists know
ostriches
are not hiding their heads in the ground but none of them care enough to correct
the myth and there are thousands of other myths like this told about Africa and
its
people, the truth is the people who made up these myths were not even scientists,
they were adventurers and agents sent to Africa to write reports on a new
continent they say they had just discovered.
The question is how can we learn the truth about our history when no one
cares to tell the truth regarding Africa true history, perhaps the following
synopsis
will shade light on this delicate subject. In the printing business there is a
saying
that says the dye is cast, this mean once the little cubes with letters on them
are
put into place on the printing press, there is no turning back the paper must be
printed, with the mistakes that were made, a totally new dice cast must be made to
correct the mistakes, the myths have already been told about Africa and its
people, now that we know they were strictly lies, myths and untruths.
The historians and literary specialists across the globe need to agree to
write a
totally new world dictionary and delete the words that support these countless
myths. The myths should be described in another new World dictionary as not
being factual, even if this is not done, teachers and schools across America
should
have a list or books of all these myths and untruths.
They should teach and admit the facts which these myths are based, these
myths were taught to us by white bourgeois anthropologists, they pretend they are
teaching us African history and undercover teach white dominance of Africans
and white superiority I should say what the truth really is they - meaning the
so-called white power structure have a white inferiority complex and its time we
realize their white skin make them feel inferior to the colored skinned people of
the world, it is this reason they are always trying to prove they are the best at
everything and for this reason colored teachers and educators should be objective,
they can rewrite Africans history to dispel these myths, so we will learn the
truth
of Africans and Americans of African origin lost history and glorious past.
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There is only one life story for everyone I believe there is one story
relating to
every individual in the world. Its the story of how they lived their life. It can
be
frightening but it can also inspire us as we live in life we are all faced with a
series of conflicting thoughts and in another sense we’re instill with a sense of
wonderment. Humans are caught up in a web of good and evil. Virtue and vice. A
make believe story of who they think they are suppose to be and the realism of
who they really are. Yet if I was to define good vs., evil, I must say with all
sincerity.
I believe they were both warp into our first consciousness at birth, the day
we
came into the world, they shall both be woof into the fabrics of our being in our
last dying thoughts, despite what we believed in and how much we changed in
life. If we are blessed to live to a ripe old age we will all be confronted with
these
questions before we die, was my life more good than evil, did I do more good in
the world than evil and was I a good person in life or plain evil, depending on
your answer, you will be able to lay down close your eyes and die in peace.