The Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has dominated spiritual and political life in Ethiopia for 17 centuries and how intertwined with the Orthodox Church is "Maryam Seyon" or "Mary of Zion". In particular, the paper looks at the reign of King Zara Yakob from approximately 1433- 1468 and how he introduced the Cult of Mary. It shows how, by unifying his splintering kingdom behind a rallying force such as the Virgin Mary and utilizing members of his monastic orders to enforce certain religious practices,Yakob would ultimately further his own political and religious power.

From the Paper:

"On a religious level, during Yakob's first years as ruler he launched a strong campaign against these survivals of pagan worship and "irregular practices" in the Church, and he began a program for "restoring Church unity" on the basis of Old Testament principles (Henze 69). He used the monasteries under his control to implement an extensive training program for newly ordained members of the clergy and sent these monks and priests into communities to eradicate pagan beliefs (Henze 69). He called for an increase in reproduction of religious manuscripts and publications and commissioned many artistic works with religious subjects. New monasteries and Churches were built on sites where previously pagan worship might have taken place. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Blier, Suzanne "Enduring Myths of African Art" in Africa: The Art of a Continent 1996
• Bravmann, Rene Open Frontiers: The Mobility of Art in Black Africa. Seattle, 1973
• Bravmann and Silverman "Painted Incantations: The Closeness of Allah and Kings in19th century Asante" in Enid Schindkrout ed. The Golden Stool, 1987
• Tamarat, T. "Church and State in Ethiopia, The Early Centuries" Heldman, M. et al.African Zion: The Sacred Art of Ethiopia New Haven: Yale, 1993

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