Tag: #ethiopia

Categories
Ethiopian Orthodox Church

The Cave of Treasures

“But when God made Adam go out of the Garden, He did not place him on the border of it northward, lest he should draw near to the sea of water, and he and Eve wash themselves in it, be cleansed from their sins, forget the transgression they had committed, and be no longer reminded of it in the thought of their punishment.

Then again, as to the southern side of the Garden, God was not pleased to let Adam dwell there; because, when the wind blew from the north, it would bring him, on that southern side, the delicious smell of the trees of the garden. Wherefore God did not put Adam there, lest he should smell the sweet smell of those trees, forget this transgression, and find consolation for what he had done, take delight in the smell of the trees, and not be cleansed from his transgression.

Again, also, because God is merciful and of great pity, and governs all things in a way He alone knows – He made our father Adam dwell in the western border of the Garden, because on that side the earth is very broad. And God commanded him to dwell there in a cave in a rock – the Cave of Treasures below the Garden.”

From the Ethiopic “Book of Adam and Eve”(Gedle Adam), Book I Chapter I, translation by Rev, S. C. Malan, London.

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Anecdotes

Cultural Sayings of His Majesty

“The other cultural sayings His Majesty often repeated were ‘Ke ras belay nefas’ (no one more important than yourself) or ‘Ha le fe semayu new’, which is an example of sem ena work (wax and gold). The denotative (or wax) translation of the saying “Ha le fe semayu new” is that the sky has passed by. The connotative (or gold) translation is that the character Ha ሀ (which appears first on the Ethiopic alphabet chart) is greater in value than the character Fe ፈ (which appears twenty-fifth) because of the order in which each character appears. The Ethiopic alphabet has thirty-three basic characters, each of which has seven forms depending on which vowel is pronounced in the syllable. Therefore, we are to conclude not only that Ha is more important than Fe but also that in life, we should see all things as related and relative. If you are last on the list, you might think that being first is greater. While your position in the alphabet (or life) is obviously relevant, it does not determine everything about you or how important or not important you are—most of life depends on how you perceive something and how much you allow it to impact you in positive or negative terms.”
(Taken from “It was Only Yesterday”, Hannah Mariam
Meherete-Selassie, 2018)
ከራስ ፡ በላይ ፡ ነፋስ ። (litt. “The wind is above the head/self”)
ሀለፈ ፡ ሰማዩ ። (litt. “The heaven has passed away”, but also “Ha is the heaven of Fe”)
Categories
Haile Selassie I - Testimonies

M.Mansfield, Majority Leader of US Senate – 1963

Senate of U.S., Washington, 2nd of October 1963

“It is a great honour and privilege to welcome to the Senate an outstanding Head of State from the great continent of Africa. He governs a nation which is among the oldest, in a historic sense, in the world. It is also among the newest in its dynamic search for a more satisfying participation for all its people in the main-stream of progress in the second half of the 20th century.

The man whom I am to present to the Senate is the Emperor of an ancient land. He is also an exceptional international statesman whose constructive outlook has made a profound impression upon the contemporary councils of the world.

This man has been a living part of the great events of our times. He has experienced these events personally, and He has experienced them as the personification of a peaceful nation, determined to live its own life and to work out its own way of life. He and His nation were both caught up in the feaful tragedies, the high hopes, the illusions, and disillusions – in short, in the cataclysmic upheavals – of a globe in massive transition since the end of World War I. He has suffered much. He has risen above suffering with the wisdom which suffering alone brings; and he has triumphed, not in arrogance, not in vengeance, not in pride. His has been the enduring triumph of humility and a deep human understanding.

The Senate will remember his lonely appearance at the League of Nations in 1936. He spoke, then, from his heart, not only to save his people from invasion, but also to arrest the course of self-destruction upon which a smug, a glib, and an indifferent world was embarked. He was listened to, but He was not heeded. He was persuasive, but the nations of the world were not persuaded. And a few years later the smug, glib and indifferent world began to crumble about those who did not heed, who were not persuaded.

Once again, on Friday, our distinguished visitor will go to address the nations of the world, assembled in the 18th General Assembly of the United Nations. The times are different now; the faces are different; even the nations are different than they were when He appeared in Geneva almost 28 years ago. One would hope – and I am sure that it is a well-founded hope – that His words, enriched by these decades of tragedy and triumph and by profound personal experience, will find in that great assemblage of the world a deep response of heart and mind.”

Categories
Ethiopia - Land, People and Customs

14 Provinces of Imperial Ethiopia

Imperial Ethiopia was divided into 14 provinces on territorial and historic basis, not ethnic or racial as today.
The 14 provinces were:
Arsi አርሲ
Begemder በጌምድር
Gamo-Gofa ጋሞ ጎፋ
Gojjam ጎጃም
Harerge ሐረርጌ
Bale ባሌ
Illubabor ኢሉባቦር
Kaffa ካፋ
Shewa ሸዋ
Sidamo ሲዳሞ
Tigray ትግራይ
Wellega ወለጋ
Wello ወሎ
Ertra (Eritrea) ኤርትራ
Categories
Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Symbology Of The Ethiopian Imperial Crest

In the center, the Throne of David: it is marked by the six pointed star, representing the Old Covenant and the sovereignity of Israel, and by the Cross of Christ over the Globe, representing the New Covenant and the expansion among the Gentiles.
On the seatback it is written the prophecy of David (Psalm 68:31) ኢትዮጵያ ፡ ታበጽሕ ፡ እደዊሃ ፡ ኀበ ፡ እግዚአብሔር ። Ityoppya Tabetzeh Eddewiha habe Egziabhier :: literally: “Ethiopia shall make her hands reach unto Egziabhier”, commonly translated as “Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hands unto God”.
On the right side of the throne, the left for the one who reads, we have Mikaiel, representing the Seraphim, the right hand authority of God and His terrible judgment (the scale). The cross is marked on the chest of Mikaiel, for He defeated Satan after his primordial rebellion, beating him by a Cross of Light.
On the other side of the throne, we have Gebrièl, representing the Cherubim, forgiveness and mercy. He announced the birth of Christ to Maryam, bringing to her a lilly, and similarly here he carries a palm, symbol of paradise and glorification.
On the lower part, the Lion of Judah, representing Christ in His resurrected victorious Character, that He had to manifest fully in His Second Coming as King upon the throne of David, according to the prophetical scriptures. The passage of the Revelation of John (5:5) is thus reported: ሞዓ፡አንበሳ፡ዘእምነገደ፡ይሁዳ። Moa Anbesa ZeEmneggede Yhuda :: “The Lion from the Tribe of Judah has prevailed”.
On the upper part, the Imperial crown covering and overshadowing everything like an umbrella tent, as universal sovereignty of God watching and ruling over His Kingdom.
Above the Throne, the Tablets of Moses and the Book represent the revelation of Egziabhier, the Law and the Bible that set and guide the Royalty of David.
Around the Book, three letters express a very deep and precious meditation. አ፡ወ፡ኦ “A WE O”. This is a quotation from Revelation 22,13: አነ፡ውእቱ፡አልፋ፡ወኣ፡አነ፡ቀዳማዊ፡ወአነ፡ደኃራዊ፡ርእስ፡ወማኅለቅት። “Ane Weetu Alfa WeO Ane Qedamawi WeAne Deharawi Rees WeMaheleqt”. “I am Alfa and O, I the First and I the Last, the Head and the End.” Here is expressed the mystery of the 2 comings of Christ, and the duality of His Nature (Lamb and Lion, God and Man) embracing and reconciling every polarity. It is also the fullness of His dispensation we keep and revere from the first chapter to the last, from Genesis to Revelation.
Categories
Haile Selassie I - Testimonies More Speeches of Haile Selassie I

Drew Pearson – Intelligencer Journal (US) – June 11 1964

Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA), June 11 1964
Drew Pearson:

“HAILE SELASSIE LOOKS TO EDUCATION FOR SALVATION

After seeing various parts of Ethiopia as suggested by Emperor Haile Selassie, I came back to see him a second time.

His Imperial Majesty received Mrs. Pearson and me in the throne room of the Jubilee Palace, actually a circular office set off from the residential part of the palace. His Majesty wore a dark business suit with stiff collar and black polka-dot tie, rather than his usual military uniform. He sat behind a desk heaped with papers, and the long list of cabinet officers and ambassadors scheduled to see him indicated that he is very much a working, not a titular, monarch.

His Majesty expressed his pleasure at the fact that we had seen so much of Ethiopia. ‘I hope’, he said, ‘that the time will come when Ethiopia will be not merely a historic country but a well-developed country. Education,’ he said, ‘will be the salvation of Ethiopia. It must be expanded.’ #QHS

The conversation quickly got around to the strained relations between Ethiopia and its desert neighbor, Somalia, which has spearheaded an Arab-Communist drive to subvert its Christian neighbor.

‘Somalia is a football field for the players of the East and the West.’ said the Emperor. ‘The reason for the influx of foreign aid to Somalia is to try to carry out the ideologies of the United States on one hand, Russia on the other. The only sufferer, however, will be Ethiopia.’ #QHS

TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE

I told his Majesty that the United States had been giving Egypt $140,000,000 of wheat and grain annually despite the fact that Nasser had been undercutting American policy in Somalia, in Yemen, and in pressuring Libya to oust our Wheelus Air Force Base. I asked His Majesty whether he thought this food subsidy for Nasser was wise.

‘I am afraid I cannot advise the United States or the American Congress on their policy,’ the Emperor replied. ‘The policy of the United States is to keep a nation out of the hands of the Reds. At least that is the excuse that is always given. Maybe this will bring Egypt over to your side, maybe not.’ #QHS

‘Egypt’, he continued, ‘gave great publicity recently to the help it had received from Russia in building the Aswan dam, but gave the United States no credit for the food it received. When the dam is finished Egypt will be independent and able to grow enough wheat for the needs of its people.’ #QHS

‘Egypt pretends to be a friend of Ethiopia,’ said the Emperor, ‘but we know that all the time it has been helping Somalia; and also getting aid from the Communist countries.’ #QHS

I asked the Emperor what was behind Somalia’s campaign against Ethiopia: religion or territorial ambition ?

‘Both,’ he replied. ‘Religion can be a name for a political instrumental rather than for divine guidance. Somalia has a conception of creating a greater Somalia. Bevan, the former British Foreign Minister, conceived the idea of a greater Somaliland but never fixed the boundaries. Now Somalia is trying to expand its ideas.’ #QHS

‘However’, said the Emperor with quiet conviction in his voice, ‘I do not propose to budge an inch. If I did, what would have been the use of defending our territory in the war with Italy ?’ #QHS

‘Is Ethiopia getting its fair share of American aid?’ I asked, having in mind the huge outlay of Russian-Chinese-European aid poured into Somalia.

‘I do not like to belittle the aid given to Ethiopia by the United States,’ replied His Majesty. ‘It has been helping to a certain extent. But if, for instance, the United States had build the long-discussed dam at Lake Tana, it would have done for us what the Russians have done for Egypt at Aswan.’ ” #QHS

 

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Anecdotes Italo-Ethiopian War

The Departure from Addis Abeba into Exile (1936)

“Suddenly everyone stiffened. One of the two doors in the pavilion opened. Palace servants, bare-footed and their shammas drawn over the sword-arm, ran out to clear the porch. The Emperor followed.

He was dressed in khaki as a general. His aspect froze my blood. Vigour had left the face, and as he walked forward he did not seem to know where he was putting his feet. His body was crumpled up, his shoulders drooped: the orders on his tunic concealed a hollow, not a chest.

I did not know it then, but later I learned that the chiefs whom he had ordered out, some of whose troops had cheered the very order, refused to go.

They pleaded inability to assemble their soldiers.

They appeared behind the Emperor now, completely satisfied wih their excuses. Gatatchu had even donned a new pair of grey trousers, with a military stripe down the side, immaculately creased. He smelt of fresh scent.

They did not realise, as the Emperor realised, that their reluctance had destroyed the last chance of organised military resistance in Ethiopia. They still believed themselves to be great leaders of men (…)

Gates of the courtyard opened… Nine hundred men followed, armed with new Mausers, marching well, carrying gas masks. As they passed the saluting base they eyes-righted the Emperor.

He did not respond, scarcely raised his hand. He recognised no one. His eyes focussed neither on objects nor on space. After the shock of the final disobedience, the parade which he was now forced to attend meant nothing, and he bitterly paid it no attention.

He went back into the pavilion. Buxton drew near with his box of Bibles, but he could not speak to he Emperor: none of us could speak to him, not even the young adviser Spencer. (…)

I stood between the doors and looked in. The Emperor lay back in the corder of a deep sofa, utterly exhausted, his high black hair showing like a halo over a face without feeling. The Empress sat erect at the other end, with her finger raised. Occasionally the white net on her head shook as she emphasised a point. When he said wearily that he would fight on, she insisted that he should fly. The sixteen-year-old boy stood by for orders, but they never came: he marched his soldiers of a day back to their homes, to the latest bugles of Ethiopia.

For hours the Empress lectured the Emperor. (…)

It must have been then that the Emperor at last decided to go. Reason, the appeal to the League, allied itself to the instinct of flight…”

(Taken from “Ceasar in Abyssinia”, G.L. Steer, 1936)

Categories
Meditations

Invest in Education Now

Nowadays, the scarce condition of I&I educational system is due to several different factors, and one of them is surely the disproportion of deal between entertainment and education.

We invested in music industry tons of money, attention and support, and we have thousands of artists, sound systems and bands. Myriads of events, festivals, frameworks, structures and superstructures to push and exalt them. To get what ? Nothing actually, for without Education – that is the Root Word – Sound cannot bear actual fruit in Power. Ironically, this is the Tree without Roots that they chant about, and we see that reggae-dub people very often is completely alienated from I&I faith and purposes.

People should learn to spend in their education, as much as they spend in their artistic fun. They should learn to support the educational workers and teachers, and give them space of working expression and economic subsistence. I remind that His Majesty devoted the higher percentage of national budget to financially sustain educational activities. We need books and teachers now to grow, as it was for Imperial Ethiopia, and create a minimum balance of responsibility.

Certain ones claim that teachers are delusional. How much delusional musicians are instead ? Sometimes it seems we have created a privileged caste of richmen that give no contribution to I&I and spread stupidity, indecence and moral confusion. Their environments, without educational basis, become like shameful sodomitic chilling areas with no consciousness at all, and all our resources are wasted in the final instance. We will stop to deceive ourselves with expectations when we will realize they are two essential human jobs and services, that someone has to perform, and earn a living from that, without excesses of esteem and through clear Ethiopian standards.

Let we stop to replace education with music. We need schools and academic workers, and it could never be a concert or a tune to give us that serious learning we need in life. They got another role, another function, another charisma and another talent, and only a handicapped people mix up the two realities without professional discernment.

So let the people start to buy books as they buy vinyls and albums, even at crazy prices; let the people start to pay and respect writers and teachers for their performances, while they worship and idolatrize musicians without reason; let them stop to give educational efforts for granted, like we manage something of second-class, that should be always freely given and got no sacrifice or toil behind.

Indeed, teaching is art and wisdom is worth more than silver and gold. Wake up and give us the Root of Roots.

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Life and Works

The 1935 Nobel Prize for Peace

DID YOU KNOW THAT Emperor Haile Selassie I had to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1935 ? Yet, because of the Italian Invasion and the following international crisis, the committee decided to not assign the award and His Majesty didn’t get it.

As it is reported in Chicago Defender Newspaper, November 30 1935:

“PEACE PRIZE – SELASSIE WON’T GET IT

Emperor Haile Selassie, mentioned prominently a month or two ago for the Nobel Peace Prize, won’t get it. And no one else will get it this year because the committe decided, because of the war raging in Africa and strained tension existing in Anglo-Italian relations in the Mediterranean no one is entitled to it. They also took in consideration the new pupper state nearing establishment in the Far East. The awards were established in 1896 by Alfred Bernhard Nobel, inventor of dynamite and guncotton. It is awarded by a Norvegian assembly committee.”

 

 

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Testimonies

Okemah News Leader (US) – 1954

“HAILE SELASSIE I IS FROM THE LONGEST OF ROYALTY LINES

STILLWATER – His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I, the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God, Emperor of Ethiopia, is at once a personification and a contradiction of his titles.

The emperor, who will spend part of two days at Oklahoma A&M college, his only stop on a flight from California to Mexico City, is a descendent of the oldest and longest line of royalty in recorded history.

And, as the reigning monarch of the oldest Christian nation in the world, his gentleness and culture, his consideration for his subjects and his passion for their progress make him appear as heir of all the wisdom and greatness of character, since his line was founded by the union of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba nearly 3,000 years ago.

His stature, delicate features and scholarly manner are a contradiction of the Conquering Lion phrase of the title of the 61-year-old emperor. But, when the occasion requires, he is every inch a king and vigorously asserts his authority or expresses his displeasure.

The Solomonic line was established about 1000 B.C. Haile Selassie is the 225th ruler of the line.”

Okemah News Leader, June 22 1954.