Frumentius | |
|---|---|
 Saint Frumentius | |
| Confessor Bishop of Axum Apostle to Ethiopia | |
| Born | 4th century Tyre,Phoenice,Byzantine Empire (modern-dayLebanon) |
| Died | c. 383 Kingdom of Aksum |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodoxy Catholicism Anglican Communion |
| Feast |
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| Patronage | Kingdom of Aksum |
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Saint Frumentius (Ge'ez:ፍሬምናጦስ,Latin:Sanctus Frumentius; died c. 383) was aPhoenicianChristian missionary and the firstbishop ofAxum who brought Christianity to theKingdom of Aksum.[1] He is sometimes known by other names, such asAbuna ("Our Father") andAba Salama ("Father of Peace").[2]
He was a native ofPhoenicia, born inTyre, modern day Lebanon.[3][4] As a boy, he was captured with his brother on a voyage, and they became slaves to theKing of Axum. He freed them shortly before his death, and they were invited to educate his young heir. They also began to teach Christianity in the region. Later, Frumentius traveled toAlexandria,Egypt, where he appealed to have a bishop appointed and missionary priests sent south to Axum. Thereafter, he was appointed bishop and established the Church in Ethiopia, converting many local people, as well as the king. His appointment began a tradition that the Patriarch of Alexandria appoint the bishops of Ethiopia.[5]
According to the fourth-century historianTyrannius Rufinus (x.9), who cites Frumentius' brother Edesius as his authority, as children (ca. 316) Frumentius and Edesius accompanied their uncle Meropius from their birthplace ofTyre (now inLebanon) on a voyage to 'India'.[3][6] When their ship stopped at one of the harbors of theRed Sea on their return voyage, local people massacred the whole crew, sparing the two boys, who weretaken as slaves to theKing of Axum. Edesius was made a cupbearer and Frumentius, his secretary and treasurer.[7] Shortly before his death, the king freed them. Thewidowed queen, however, prevailed upon them to remain at the court and assist her in the education of the young heir,Ezana, and in the administration of the kingdom during the prince's minority. They remained and (especially Frumentius) used their influence to spread Christianity. First they encouraged the Christianmerchants present in the country to practice their faith openly, and they helped them find places "where they could come together for prayer according to the Roman Rite";[8] later they converted some of the natives.[1]
When the prince came of age, Edesius returned toTyre, where he stayed and was ordained a priest.[3] Frumentius, eager for the conversion of Ethiopia, accompanied his brother as far asAlexandria, where he requestedAthanasius,Patriarch of Alexandria, to send a bishop and some priests asmissionaries to Ethiopia. By Athanasius' own account, he believed Frumentius to be the most suitable person for the job. He consecrated him as bishop,[9] traditionally in the year 328, or according to others, between 340 and 346.
Frumentius returned to Ethiopia, where he erected hisepiscopal see atAxum, then converted and baptized KingEzana, who built many churches and spread Christianity throughout Ethiopia. Frumentius established the first monastery of Ethiopia, calledDabba Selama inDogu'a Tembien. The people called FrumentiusKesate Birhan "Revealer of Light" andAbba Salama "Father of Peace". He became the firstAbuna, a title given to the head of theOriental Orthodox Churches in Ethiopia.
In about 356, the Byzantine emperorConstantius II wrote to King Ezana and his brotherSaizana, requesting them to replace Frumentius as bishop withTheophilos the Indian, who supportedArianism, as did the emperor. Athanasius, a leading opponent of Arianism, had appointed Frumentius. The king refused the request.[10][11]
Ethiopian traditions credit him with the firstGeʽez translation of theNew Testament and being involved in the development ofGeʽez script from anabjad (consonantal-only) into anabugida (syllabic).
The Ethiopian andEritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches celebrate his consecration on 18 Taḫśaś (the 4th month of theEthiopian calendar and death in 26 Hamle (the 11th month).[12]
TheCoptic Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Frumentius on 18 December,[13] theEastern Orthodox Church on 30 November[14] and theCatholic Church on 20 July.[15]
Frumentius is regarded as the patron saint of the formerKingdom of Aksum, and its contemporary territories.[citation needed]
He is the patron saint ofSt Frumentius Theological College inEthiopia, which is part of theEpiscopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria.[citation needed]
FRUMENTIUS (c. 300–c. 360), the founder of the Abyssinian church, traditionally identified in Abyssinian literature with Abba Salama or Father of Peace (but see Ethiopia), was a native of Phoenicia.
the history of Abyssinia should be briefly recalled. The Gospel was introduced there about A.D. 327 by Frumentius (c. 290-c. 350), a native of Phoenicia, who was consecrated bishop of Aksum by Athanasius of Alexandria.
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)Rufinus, Ecclesiastical History, 10.9-10, records the account of Aedesius and Frumentius, nephews of the Phoenician trader Meropius, who were kidnapped on the coast of "further India" in the time of Constantine and later raised at the royal court.
Frumentius, the first Ethiopian bishop, was a Phoenician.
The narrative is widely known. Meropius, a philosopher from Tyre on the Lebanese coast, is travelling through the Red Sea with two young brothers belonging to his own family, Frumentius and Aedesius.
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