The Church, as the government of God, is an integral and democratic institution. It is the life of every community which works in the lives if individuals. It is called upon to pledge to the words freedom, justice and peace in the world; to denounce violations of human indignity, to identify itself with the poor and oppressed.
THE DAILY GLEANER:
SATURDAY MAY 23, 1970
Visiting Archimandrite Laike M. Mandefro Head and Administrator of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the United States, on Wednesday afternoon paid a courtesy call on the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Dr. Neville Gallimore at his Ministry, Dr. Gallimore welcomed the Archimandrite to Jamaica.
Both men then discussed the proposed establishment of a branch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Jamaica. The Archimandrite disclosed that there would be a baptism of 300 souls in Jamaica shortly and that he hoped to have a pastor from Africa to guide them. He also said that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church was one of the oldest Churches on earth dating back to the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon.
Deacon Gabre Tsadik of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has been in the island for some time now conducting services and Instruction Classes for more than 600 persons who have registered to become members of the Church in Jamaica. Deacon Tsadik will be in Jamaica until July 19. In the meantime he is conducting services and instruction classes at Ebenezer Hall, Spanish Town Road at 10:00 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. on weekdays and at 7.00 p.m. on Sundays.
In an interview with the GLEANER, Deacon Tsadik said that he is Impressed with the Religious spirit that exists here. Jamaica in this respect, he said, is to be compared with Ethiopia. He said over 140 new candidates have already been enrolled for baptism. Deacon Tsadik said that Archimandrite Laike M.Mandefro is expected to arrive in the island in September to conduct baptisms and further instruction classes.
Following his recent visit to Jamaica the Archimandrite wrote to the Patriarch of the of the Church in Ethiopia, His Grace Abuna Theophilos advocating the sending of "...a priest of high and noble character" to Administer the Church in Jamaica.
The Patriarch, Deacon Tsadik said, had now written to the Archimandrite giving him jurisdiction over the Church in Jamaica, as well as in the United States. Registrations are being received 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. at Ebenezer hall as well as during the 3:30 P.M. services. Registration secretary is Mr. G. Arscott who is also Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Holy Trinity Ethiopian Orthodox Church here. Following a special Sunday morning service, to be held at a venue to be announced, Deacon Tsadik will be' accompanied by a motorcade around the Corporate Area, ending at the Pallsadoes Airport from which he will depart for New York at 2:30 P.M.
Out of this alienation with its related back to Africa call, those who longed for liberation echoed the theological scandal of Western civilization. It is the same scandal of two thousand years ago — that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, the Son of God. In our time its manifestation came in the person of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. The Rastafarians of Jamaica proclaimed him as God's Messiah and today the question is not whether or not there is objectivity in the claim, the living truth is that thousands of people in Jamaica, the Caribbean and North America lead very disciplined and moral lives in accordance with such a belief. For these conformists, to the scandal theology is a living people orientated matter; and for them, the poor and wretched of the earth, the highest expression of their spiritual longing has been realized in the person of an African King from the lineage of King Solomon.
September 30, 1967
A "First" in liturgical relations between Ethiopian Orthodox and United Presbyterian churches was marked recently when the Ethiopian mass was incorporated into the 10:30 a.m. worship service at Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Paramus, New Jersey. The service was conducted jointly by Father Laike Mariam Mandefro of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Bronx, New York, and the Rev. Robert
Hugh Reed, pastor of the Trinity congregation. Father Mandefro was assisted by several Ethiopian students currently studying in the United States. The students were weekend guests of Trinity Church families.
"...As if the blood they spilled in Ethiopia was not enough, the Italians were working to get Ethiopia expelled from the League of Nations." [H.I.M]
"...Italy and her supporters put forward a suggestion that no country should retain its memebership after its capital city has been occupied. On the other hand they presented a forged document which it purported [to show] that the people of Ethiopia had contentedly accepted Italy's governorship" [H.I.M]
"...The countries which opposed Ethiopia were Austria, Hungary, Albania and Ecuador. The six countries which abstained were Bulgaria, Panama, Portugal, Siam, Switzerland and Venezuala." [H.I.M]
Do not remove the kinks from your hair--remove them from your brain. [Marcus Garvey]
Most of the time we hear criticisms from several goverments and individuals on the involvement of the Church in community affairs. In fact; the Church is the link between God and Man and as such it is the duty of the church to identify itself with the poor and oppressed.
If the Church, which is to be an instrument of the word of God and the mouth of the oppressed, is to keep silent and be afraid to witness the truth, it means that she has forgotten that Christ was a revolutionary and compassionate, and that he established the Church as a revolutionary God, contradicting himself with the old system, which was contrary to the freedom and welfare of all men.
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."