Ethiopic Gospel Book, Ethiopia, around 1700
African God: the Virgin and Child, with two angels holding a curtain
African God: the Virgin and Child, with two angels holding a curtain
Christianity reached Ethiopia in the middle of the fourth century with the baptism of King ’Ezana. Through the influence of nine monks driven out of Syria, Ethiopia quickly embraced the doctrine of Miaphysitism [the Christology of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, which holds that in the one person of Jesus Christ, divinity and humanity are united in one “nature” (physis)]. The translation of Christian texts into Ethiopian began soon afterwards. Although none of the Ethiopic codices still extant today date from earlier than the tenth century, it can be assumed that the Gospels were the first to be translated, probably from the Greek, in around 500. Surviving texts also reveal strong Syrian, and, in particular, Arabic influences, brought to Ethiopia via Coptic manuscripts and incorporated over the course of time. This manuscript was presented to the monastery of Antonyos. In the Ethiopic liturgy, after prayers and scripture readings, the Gospel is presented to the faithful to be kissed. This manuscript shows almost no traces of use, however, and appears to have been used only in the monastery.
Images and text from The World’s Most Beautiful Bibles: 25th- anniversary edition (Taschen, £25; 978-3-8365-0299-3)
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