Tag: #ethiopia

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Haile Selassie I - Testimonies

Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the U.S. President F.D.Roosevelt – 1954

New York – Friday, May 29 1954

“This country is happy to be visited by the courageous Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, and to entertain him as an honored guest.

Older people will remember his passionate plea to the League of Nations for the protection of his country against the invading Italian forces in 1935. And it will also be remembered that Ethiopia sent its contingent of soldiers to Korea. The Ethiopians were among the finest groups of soldiers who visited the United Nations General Assembly in Paris in 1951 to be congratulated by that body for their services in Korea.

In my short address to them at that time, I quoted from a speech made to them by Emperor Haile Selassie when they left for the front. It was one of the finest statements I had read of the purpose for which the U.N. was fighting in Korea, and it held high standards up for these soldiers to live by.

I hope those who greet the Emperor here will remember the fine record of his soldiers in Korea, when they fought side by side with our own men.

Ethiopia is largely a Christian country, with religious traditions going back to the earliest days of Christianity. Our citizens will be anxious to learn more of conditions in the Emperor’s country and of the ways in which our two countries can cooperate for the improvement of world conditions.”

Hyde Park – Tuesday 2nd June 1954

“On Sunday morning we had the pleasure of having the Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia visit us here at Hyde Park. He laid a wreath on my husband’s grave, then paid a short visit to the home and the Memorial Library. He was much interested in my husband’s variety of interests, looked at the model ships and went through the stacks where papers and books are kept.

He reached my cottage just at 1 o’clock, when the recording of his appearanee on the television program, “Youth Wants to Know,” was shown. The young people had asked him many questions and he had answered them willingly and cordially. Naturally, he wanted to see and hear the recording as it was going out over the country, so for half an hour we watched television.

Since his schedule required him to be in New York City by 4:30, he had to leave here between 2:15 and 2:30. You can imagine that a buffet lunch served to 40 persons in three-quarters of an hour is rather hurried! But I think several people had a chance to talk to the Emperor while he ate; and I had a few minutes of conversation with him quietly before he left. (…)

I found the Emperor a most delightful person. His son is very unassuming and charming, and so is his granddaughter. In fact, I have rarely had a more enjoyable official party here. Though they were hurried, they behaved as though everything was just the way they wished it to be, and I hope they will carry away pleasant memories of their short time with us.”

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Haile Selassie I - Teachings

Education must be the Principal

“The general happiness of mankind today is rather scant and insecure; but We should have to live and do Our best to ameliorate it. Education of the youth is the surest guarantee of a better life. Therefore, among the many projects undertaken for the welfare and prosperity of Ethiopia, We have planned that education be the principal. Many foreign teachers have been brought in to feed the youth like a gardener feeds his plants with fresh water.” #QHS

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Ethiopia in the Bible

Moses, Jethro and Zipphora

Even Moses testified the prophetical relevance of Ethiopia as motherland of Mankind. He is the greatest prophet of old, about whom it has been said in the Scripture:

“And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34, 10)

When Moses realized his own calling and racial identity as child of Israel, he departed from the idolatric and oppressive court of Egypt: he killed an egyptian man, as symbolic denial of that system, and took refuge in Midian, at that time an Ethiopian colony ruled by the Ethiopian Priest and King Jethro (Yotor):

“Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock…” (Exodus 2, 15-16)

Jethro was a descendant of Melchisedek and Ethièl: in fact, he was priest and king in the same time, and the validity of his priesthood was acknowledged by the children of Israel, who participate into his rite and sacrifice (Exodus 18). This valid priesthood, existing before the Levites, was the Order of Melchisedek, he had inherited from his forefather. Similarly to Abraham with Melchisedek, Moses bowed down unto Jethro the Ethiopian in submission:

“And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him” (Exodus 18,7)

Having dismissed the pagan robes of the Egyptians, Moses rebuilt his own identity following the authority and education of Jethro the Ethiopian, that taught him all the secrets of Priesthood and Kingdom also. It is a good example of this when he told Moses to rationally organize the administration of justice, establishing subordinate judges to solve the disputes of the people (Exodus 18). This is said in the same chapter where Jethro leads the liturgy of the children of Israel.

Moses married the daughter of Jethro, that thus became his father-in-law. Therefore, Moses was completely adopted by an Ethiopian family and was filled with Ethiopian knowledge to face his prophetical ministry. There, among the Ethiopians, God revealed Himself:

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed (…) God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.” (Exodus 3, 1-4)

Zipphora, his ethiopian wife, became the queen of the nation of Israel, companion of His greatest prophet and Law-giver, as symbol of the divine motherland and physical racial essence of the kingdom of God.

When the Levitic family of Moses saw his Ethiopian wife, they became jelous and hostile, for Moses had taken as wife a stranger. But it was not a stranger indeed, therefore Egziabhier sent a terrible punishment of leprosy against those ones without understanding (Numbers 12). Their doom is allegorically the same of all those trying to deny Ethiopia her rightful divine place as original biblical motherland.

And talking about Christ, the second Law-Giver, Moses prophecied about the coming of a Prophet of Ethiopian Knowledge and Order, like himself, saying:

“The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (Deuteronomy 18, 15)

 

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Haile Selassie I - Anecdotes

The Age of the World

“One evening at the dinner table a conversation was going on in French between some of the guests. Suddenly the Emperor turned to me and asked, ‘What do you believe? How old is the world?’ #QHS

‘If we are to believe the Bible,” I said, “it is about six thousand years old.’

‘Impossible,’ someone spoke up. ‘It is at least six million years old.’ This person attempted to explain how scientists had discovered certain animals in artic regions and how they reasoned that the world must be millions of years old to allow time for all the changes in the earth to come about.

‘To me it is not a question that concerns my salvation,’ I replied ‘and I never argue with anyone as to how old the earth is.’

The Emperor agreed at once, saying, ‘That is true. Salvation is sure, and these things really do not matter.‘ #QHS

(Taken from: “For God and Emperor”, Herbert and Della Hanson, 1958, page 150)

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Ethiopian Orthodox Church

The 14 Sufferings of the Cross

፲ ወ ፬ ፡ ሕማማተ ፡ መስቀል ።
ASERTU WE ARBATU HEMAMATE MESQEL
The 14 Sufferings of the Cross

1) Capture – Te(e)hazot ተእኀዞት

– Christ was arrested at 9:00 PM of Thursday (the third hour of the night of Friday, according to traditional counting). He died at the 3:00 PM of Friday (the ninth hour of that day), thus facing an agony of about 18 hours.

2) Back Binding – Teasrote Dehrit ተአስሮተ ፡ ድኅሪት ፡

– His hands were tied behind the back. They also tied 5 ropes around His neck, and by those they pulled and dragged Him in the places of His passion.

3) Slapping of the Jaw – Tetzef’ote Melthat ተጸፍዖተ ፡ መልታሕት ፡

– He was slapped 41 times, in turn, by the Jews, that willingly lost many times their counting, and had him in derision.

4) Flagellation of the Back – Teqeshfote Zeban ተቀሥፎተ ፡ ዘባን ፡

– He was whipped with 41 slashes (the Law of Moses set a maximum of 40) and all the bones of His body were exposed.

5) Spoliation of dress – Te’arqote Lebs ተዐርቆተ ፡ ልብስ ፡

– He was completely naked, though the icons desplay Him with covered genitals for respect.

6) Crown of thorns – Aklile Shok አክሊለ ፡ ሦክ ፡

– He was crowned with a crown having 70 thorns. They placed it above His head, and hammered down it against His head.

7) Plumming of the head – Tekwer’ote Rees ተኰርዖተ ፡ ርእስ ፡

– He was beaten by staff and iron 6666 times

8 ) Bearing the cross – Tzewire Mesqel ጸዊረ ፡ መስቀል ፡

– The Lord bore the vertical staff of the Cross, the “trunk”: it represented Divinity. The horizontal staff was borne by Simon of Cyrenes, and represented Humanity. The Cross was made of 8 different woods, mainly fig tree, but also vine and olive tree.

9) Weakness – Dekam ድካም

10) Falling (3 times) – Wediq ወዲቅ

– When He fell down, the Jews trampled him and walked over His body.

11) Drinking Vinegar with Bile – Sheribe B(e)hie Mesle Hamot ሠሪበ ፡ ብሒእ ፡ ምስለ ፡ ሐሞት ፡

– They gave Him to drink vinegar with elephant bile.

12) Crucifixion – S(e)q(e)let ስቅለት

– He was crucified with 5 nails: two for His hands, one for both His feet, one to merge together the two staffs of the cross, one to sustain the tablet above His head. The 5 nails are called Sador, Alador, Denet, Adera and Rodas. These names are the same of the famous latin magic palindrome: SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS.

– He was perforated with 5 wounds: hands, feet, and side.

– He was crucified on Golgotha, where there was the tomb of Adam, and from where God took the soil to create Him (Elda). He was crucified among two thieves (Diemàs and Ghiestà), the first was pagan and the second was jew. The first converted and was saved, the second was damned.

13) Thirst of Water – Tzema May ጽምአ ፡ ማይ ፡

14) Dieing – Mewit መዊት ፡

– Dieing as an ordinary man, the Lord came down into Siòl (Hell) for 3 hours, and had Satan undergo tremendous tortures and sufferings: he freed the spirits of the fathers, kept as prisoners by the wicked, and entered with them into the Paradise at the sunset of Friday.

From the Cross, He pronounced 7 words:

1) “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
2) “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
3) “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
4) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
5) “Woman, here is your son…Here is your mother.”
6) “I am thirsty.”
7) “It is finished.”

7 Terrible Signs were manifested:

1) The sun darkened
2) The moon turned into blood
3) The stars shone
4) The veil of the temple was cut
5) The earth was shaken
6) The tombs opened up.
7) The dead rose again.

 

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Laws and Government

Ethiopia: 13 Months of Sunshine

“Ethiopia: 13 Months of Sunshine” was an official motto of the Imperial Government to powerfully summarize the unique climate of the country, ideal for man as it is the original Paradise of Adam.

At the same time, the sentence would show an intelligent reference to the special cultural antiquity and vitality of the nation, having a peculiar system of calendar made of 13 months (12 months of 30 days + Pagumiè short month of 5/6 days).

Prophetically, it recalled to I&I the words of Saint John about the Kingdom of Christ:

“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” (Revelation 21, 23-25)

Few people know that behind that intense motto, spiritual and temporal alike, there was a great ethiopian genius, minister of His Majesty Haile Selassie in building up the foundations of modern Ethiopia, Hapte-Selassie Tafesse, Founder of Ethiopian Tourism.

His legacy represents an essential cultural, artistic and technical wealth for Ethiopia and mankind, that his descendant is now striving to keep alive in these times, speaking about his deeds and carrying on his projects. They are coming soon with very interesting and useful educational works that deserve to be supported, you can find further information here:

www.hapte-selassie.com

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Haile Selassie I - Testimonies

Dr. E. C. Pearce, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University – 1924

Cambridge, UK, 18th July 1924

“Your Highness! As we have heard of your initiative and perseverance in leading your country Ethiopia in wisdom and knowledge, we bestow upon you the honorary degree of Doctor of Law.”

(…)

“Your Highness!

The poet Homer says the Ethiopians are blameless. Herodotus says the Ethiopians are longlived because they do not drink wine at all.

It is a fact that the Ethiopians refused to pay tribute to Cambyses and to the Persian kings. Subsequently, they turned back victoriously all who came to take their country by force. Who does not know that the Queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon’s fame, came by camel bearing spices, gold, and gems to try the king with riddles? Who does not know that she returned to her country to be the mother of all the kings? Who does not remember, as the centuries unfolded, their descent from David? Who does not know of their being of the family of Queen Candace? All this proves the establishment of their Christianity over the whole of Ethiopia and their possession of an ancient faith over a long history.

A man who had studied at Christ’s College in Cambridge University has, in recent years, revealed to the English people the literature and law books of Ethiopia.

Today there is amongst us Tafari Makonnen, Ethiopia’s Crown Prince. He follows in the footsteps of his ancestors and possesses knowledge exceeding that of orientals and Egyptians. He explores ancient and modern knowledge. He has studied all the ancient Christian traditions. He endeavours to acquire modern science. H.H. Tafari Makonnen is the first Ethiopian Crown Prince who has gone up in an aeroplane.

He has caused the books of John Chrysostom and of Mar Yeshaq to be translated from Ge’ez into Amharic and had them printed at his own press. These books can be found in the Cambridge University Library. Furthermore, he has built a school for the children of Ethiopia.

We therefore make known to all of you here Ethiopia’s great Crown Prince and Regent, H.H. Tafari Makonnen, the hope of Ethiopia, who is descended from ancient kings.”

 

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Haile Selassie I - Testimonies

Archibishop of Canterbury Randall Davidson, Head of the Anglican Church – 1924

London, 11th July 1924

“Your Highness!

It gives me very great pleasure to welcome Your Highness to Lambeth Palace which is the main centre of the English Church. From time to time I receive those who are the important representatives of the branches of the Church of Christ. But there has never before visited Lambeth anyone whose church stands, in terms of antiquity, in first place among the Christians of the world.

Your Highness! Your Church has an ancient history of about 1600 years. Its beginnings approach the even earlier period of the apostles of Our Lord. Your Church has a history which is related to the time of Athanasius and his companions. Your Highness is not only holding on to ancient traditions, but it is your glory to develop Christian civilization for the future and to spread the Christian scriptures among your people.

From your printing press issue not only ancient and modern religious books. But you yourself are an active participant in the work. The Ethiopian books which Your Highness has caused to be printed have an introduction by you: Everyone who studies the books of Chrysostom and of the monk Mar Yeshaq will derive much benefit.

It is not to be doubted that the main object of your present journey is to acquaint yourself with the modern western world. Be it in spiritual or in secular terms, your visit is to all of us a perpetual joy. I feel assured that your country’s spiritual and secular wellbeing is well placed in your hands and that there is due to you every possible assistance for your beneficent endeavours.

With cordial friendship and high hopes we wish that everything for which you have come here may prosper.“

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Haile Selassie I - Teachings

The Oldest Books have been kept by Ethiopia only

“Indeed, our copyists in the first centuries have translated into ethiopian language several works produced in the mediterranean world. Copy by copy, these works have come down to us today, and it happens that the original has disappeared since long time, and only our humble translation in our old language remains, copied by our monks and scholars. In this way, the oldest text of the Apocalypse of Peter has been found within the collection of the National Library of Paris. Every day, just to speak about the collections in Europe, sages of all nationalities descover texts of the highest interest.”

HIM Haile Selassie I

(Translated from the book given by His Majesty in French language, “L’Invasion de l’Ethiopie”)

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Haile Selassie I - Teachings

Africa for the Africans

Inaugurating the hydro-electric dam of Kale, Guinea.
Kale, Guinea, October 12 1963
“Our struggle for ‘Africa for the Africans’, the success of which looked remote not only to colonial powers but also to Africans has become a reality today.
We cannot say Africa is for Africans when the economy of an African country is run by foreigners while the people have only nominal independence. We dare say that Africa is for Africans only when we see such economic projects as this dam constructed with the partecipation of Africans and when we cherish the hope that Africans will be the sole proprietors of such works of progress in the near future.
We can say that the President and people of Yugoslavia think and work for the liberation and progress of Africa, as Africans themselves do. They have stretched their helping hand not only here in Guinea, but they have also helped Ethiopia in similar ways.
We have fully realized the fact that the people of Yugoslavia work for others as hard as they do for their own country while they were working in Our own country.
(…) Now if this great undertaking had not got the right receptive hand it would not have materialized to the extent of becoming the country’s vital economic project.
We would like to thank you for the kind and respectful gesture you have bestowed upon Us for opening and inaugurating this dam.
Long Live African Unity. May We express Our fervent desire and hope in the evolution of the final phase of this unity.”