The third and great problem was the desire of the Roman Catholic Church to bring the Ethiopian Christians under the jurisdiction of the Pope of Rome. Several missionary workers and bishops (Jesuits) were sent to Ethiopia for the purpose of conversion (1520-1632). Pedro Pais (Paes), Joao Bermudez, Andre de Oviedo, Francisco Alvares and D. Alfonso Mendez were the notable leaders among the missionaries.
The third and great problem was the desire of the Roman Catholic Church to bring the Ethiopian Christians under the jurisdiction of the Pope of Rome. Several missionary workers and bishops (Jesuits) were sent to Ethiopia for the purpose of conversion (1520-1632). Pedro Pais (Paes), Joao Bermudez, Andre de Oviedo, Francisco Alvares and D. Alfonso Mendez were the notable leaders among the missionaries. Their mission was the result of contact with King Manuel and King Joam of Portugal made by Empress Eleni and her son Lebna Dengel (Prester John) of Ethiopia, whose desires were to fortify their country against the Turkish Menace then pending, by an alliance with a Christian neighbouring power and to protect the holy land in which the tomb of our Lord Eyesus Kristos is.
Among the notable missionaries that came to Ethiopia to proselytize was Pero Pais (Pedro Paez), who reached Ethiopia in 1603. He lost no time in advertising the Church of Rome. Pais was “ received with great honour by King Zedengel. The next day – disputes began about religion which the King was pleased both favourably and patiently to hear.” On the advice of Pais, Zedengel wrote to Pope Clement VIII and King Philip III of Spain and Portugal to request Jesuits to come and instruct his subjects.
It was also said that Zedengel secretly promised Pais to submit himself to the Pope of Rome. The chief nobility of Ethiopia found out including Ze Selassie who was zealous of their ancient religion they fought against the king and slew him in battle. Zedengel being slain Pais’s "great hopes vanished of a sudden.".
After the king’s death Yacob and Susneyos the King's sons fought a civil war between themselves in which Yacob was killed. Pais remained silent until the struggle was over then went to Susneyos' court where he was received with honour. Before long he had converted Susneyos to Catholicism. In 1615 Susneyos convened a theological council to debate the two beliefs Ethiopian and Roman having the Emperor on their side the Jesuits triumphed. Susneyos then issued a decree ordering his subjects to believe in the Roman formula.
The discussion was renewed because of the protests of the Ethiopian Bishop Simon, which the Jesuits won again Susneyos then reissued his proclamation pronouncing death for anyone who disagreed. The priests were filled with horror and dismay sixty monks from Damot Monastery threw themselves from a cliff rather than accept the Roman faith. The king’s eldest brother Afe Kristos (mouth of Christ) refused to accept the Roman faith and his tongue was cut out. The Emperor’s followers including his son began to murmur against killing of fellow Ethiopians and argued with him to break with Rome. The viceroy of Tigre was killed because he supported Rome and Susneyos avenged him with a mighty army yet the people said,“...look, sire, such thousands killed. They are neither Moors nor heathens but your own vassals, our flesh and blood. How many will you put to death? They cannot understand this faith of Rome. Leave them, sire, to the faith of their forefathers.”
In 1626 Susneyos swore allegiance to the Pope of Rome. He forced the clergy and the imperial families to do the same and issued the usual proclamation. Mendes excommunicated anyone who refused to accept Rome.
The Ethiopian people were untouched; the Ethiopian church is the oldest church in Christendom and deeply rooted in the past. Her tradition and culture has been part of the nation’s life since the first century it was impossible for the people to accept Roman doctrine. Instead war; revolt after revolt with no end in sight broke out the Emperor spent his days squashing revolts.The Emperor’s followers including his son began to murmur against killing of fellow Ethiopians and argued with him to break with Rome. The viceroy of Tigre was killed because he supported Rome and Susneyos avenged him with a mighty army yet the people said,“...look, sire, such thousands killed. They are neither Moors nor heathens but your own vassals, our flesh and blood. How many will you put to death? They cannot understand this faith of Rome. Leave them, sire, to the faith of their forefathers.”
H.I.M giving cross to new Bishop
"...a greater future is in store for us; we have no cause to lose hope to become faint hearted. We must realize that upon ourselves depend our destiny, our future. We must carve out that future, that destiny ... Nothing in this world shall discourage us, but opposition shall make us work harder, shall bring us closer together, so that as one man the millions of us will march on toward that goal that we have set for ourselves."
We learn from the Holy Scriptures that the first Ethiopian who confessed faith in Jesus Christ was baptised only a few months after the death and resurrection of Our Lord. From then on Christianity spread steadily among the Ethiopian people and became the religion of the Ethiopians in the Fourth Century. It is a matter of pride for Us, a special cause for thankfulness to Almighty God, when We recall that the Christian Faith was introduced to Our people by the Imperial Court and through the instrumentality of the then reigning Monarch
Our Lord Eyesus Kristos says: "What has a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Why did the effort of those who tried to build the Tower of Babel come to nothing? Was it not because they tried to live apart from their Creator, and because, vaunting themselves in their wisdom, they tried to build a tower whose top was to reach unto heaven and thus make a name for themselves? It is Our conviction that all the activities of the children of men which are not guided by the Spirit and counsel of God will bear no lasting fruit, they will not be acceptable in the sight of the Lord and will therefore come to nought as the Tower of Babel came to nought.
Oh racists "prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, let every valley be filled, and every mountain and hill be brought low; and the crooked be made smooth." (St. Luke 3: 4-5)
“...Bob was really a good brother, a child of God, regardless of how people looked at him. He had a desire to be baptised long ago, but there were people close to him who controlled him and who were aligned to a different aspect of Rastafari . But he came to Church regularly. I remember once while I was conducting the Mass, I looked at Bob and tears were streaming down his face ...When he toured Los Angeles and New York and England, he preached the Orthodox faith, and many members in those cities came to the Church because of Bob. Many people think he was baptised because he knew he was dying, but that is not so…he did it when there was no longer any pressure on him, and when he was baptised, he hugged his family and wept, they all wept together for about half an hour.”
(Abba Yesehaq Nov 25, 1984)
The Ethiopian Tewahedo* Church is an indigenous and integral church of Africa. It is one of the oldest churches in the world, if not the oldest, and is one of the founders of the World Council of Churches.
"...His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I is the defender of the faith. He attends Church services regularly and strictly observes the frequent Fast days and Holy days. He never misses Sunday morning services. He brought a strong Unity among the Eastern Orthodox Churches with their central office being organized in Addis Ababa Ethiopia and the central committee of the world council of churches had it’s meeting in January 1971 in Addis Ababa through His Majesty."