The Center for Early African Christianity

300

c. 320

Christianity in Ethiopia

Frumentius and Aedisius, two Syrian brothers, were rescued from a plundered Roman Ship off the Ethiopian coast. The two lads were escorted to the royal palace in Axum where both served for a number of years in significant administrative and Christianizing roles. Some years later Frumentius travelled to Alexandria to inform Athanasius of the development of Christianity in the Axumite palace, who ordained him bishop.

327

The Kingdom of Ethiopia adopts Christianity; Ethiopian missionaries sent to convert the Himyarites; the church historian Philostorgios offers first evidence of a Jewish presence in the region.

340

Christian cathedral St Mary of Zion in Axium; either newly built or converted temple.

350

Fall of island of Meroe to the Aksumite King Ezana; ancient capital of Meroe abandoned to Noba, perhaps pastoralists from south.

c. 356

Aksumite inscriptions identify King Ezana and his brother Sazana, who convert to Christianity; monks migrate to Aksum.

4th cent.

Rufinus reports on Ethiopia.

c. 400

Some Christian scriptures translated into in Ge'ez.

c. 490's

Arrival of "Nine Saints," wandering Syrian monks; strongly influenced Ethiopian Christianity.

514-542

King Kaleb of Axum.

522

Ethiopian Christian forces attack the capital Zatar, but are driven back by the Himyarite army; Dhu Nuwas conducts a campaign against the Christians of Najran; Dhu Nuwas killed in battle in 525.

570

The Battle of the Elephant, in which the Meccans defeat the invading army of Christian Ethiopia.

6th cent.

Ethiopian church music composed by the monk Yared.

800-1000

Ethiopic Synaxary; 800s Christian empire in Ethiopia gravitates south after the decline of Aksum; Arab and Persian merchants explore East African coast with trading stations at Malindi, Mombasa, Kilwa, and Mogadishu.

c. 9th cent.

Ruler Degna Jan; a period of military expansion and Christianization.

1137–1268

Zagwe Dynasty in Lasta.

1187

Chapel in Jerusalem granted to Ethiopian pilgrims by Sultan Saladdin.

c. 1190's

Lalibela rock churches; Lalibela seventh king of Zagwe dynasty.

1268

The recorded lineage of the Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia begins with Yekuno Amlak.