A visit to an Ethiopian church can be a confusing experience for Westerners. There they find the Christian religion they know from back home, but it comes in an exotic form which is sometimes reminiscent of, say, India. Then again in some respects Ethiopian Christians resemble Muslims. The atmosphere in the churches is informal, and the way people dress and pray is similar - they kneel down and touch the floor with their foreheads.
Ethiopians are proud of their history, and particularly of the fact that they were never colonised. Northern Ethiopia's Christian culture dates back to long before the colonial period, to the fourth century A.D. On religious holidays such as Christmas and Epiphany thousands of pilgrims gather in holy places like Axum and Lalibela. To reach these locations, some walk for days along age-old footpaths crisscrossing the Ethiopian highlands.
All churches have a sanctum which only priests are allowed to enter. It houses a copy of the Ark of the Covenant, the Ten Commandments chiselled in stone with which Moses confirmed the covenant between God and man.
The Ethiopians claim that they possess the original ark, stored in a chapel of St Mary's Church in Axum. Thousands of pilgrims flock to the church and the chapel every year, gazing at the chapel through an iron gate. Tourists are not even allowed near the place, a measure allegedly taken after two tourists climbed the gate to go and take a close look at the Ark.
(rk/as)
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am proud being ethiopian yes ethiopian Ortodox Christainity is very different from Muslims just because people kneel down to the ground and touch the ground with their head does not make the two relgion simlar. they are far different than simlar. however,almost half of ethiopian are muslims and half are christain we live in peace. we respact our diffence. our diffence is our beuty mostly we are one we are ethiopian. so just befor rush in to conclusion Christianty in Ethiopia looks muslims just have fundamental knowlage a bout ethiopian ortodox Christanity.
here is when Journalist are rash to write about things they didn't understand it well " Ethiopian Christians resemble Muslims" and trying to connect Christianity with the ppl living standard that will never and ever related at all it seems like the Writer have some kind of mission
I can't place this item. Is there a connection with the Netherlands - at all?
Yes, I totally agree with the content of this article, that Ethiopian Church is unique. It, I would say, is a blend of many things: religion, believe system, cultural experience and local practices. The write has captured the essence of this reality. Islam and India? Who expects such thing to be part of this ancient church. Let me add one thing to the writer's observation. The church also resembles many aspects of Judaic practices such as the painting of Stare of David. If one examines these ancient churches, one may find such symbol even as part of the churches architecture.
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