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{{short description|Eastern Catholic church}}
{{distinguish|Catholic Church in Ethiopia}}
{{distinguish| Catholic Church in Ethiopia}}
{{short description|Metropolitan sui iuris Eastern particular church within the Catholic Church}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
{{Infobox religion
| icon = Ethiopian Catholic Church cross.png
| icon = Ethiopian Catholic Church cross.png
| name = Ethiopian Catholic Church
| name = Ethiopian Catholic Church
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| imagewidth = 230px
| imagewidth = 230px
| caption = [[Cathedral of the Holy Saviour, Adigrat]]
| caption = [[Cathedral of the Holy Saviour, Adigrat]]
| main_classification = [[Eastern Catholic]]
| main_classification = [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Oriental Catholic]]
| orientation = [[Eastern Christianity]]
| orientation = [[Oriental Christianity]]
| theology = [[Catholic theology]]
| theology = [[Catholic theology]]
| polity = [[Episcopal polity|Episcopal]]
| polity = [[Episcopal polity|Episcopal]]
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| liturgy = [[Alexandrian Rite]]
| liturgy = [[Alexandrian Rite]]
| founder = Saint [[Mark the Evangelist]], by tradition
| founder = Saint [[Mark the Evangelist]], by tradition
| founded_date = 20 February 1951
| founded_place = [[Egypt]]
| separated_from =
| separated_from =
| branched_from =
| branched_from =
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| aid =
| aid =
| congregations = 207 (2010)
| congregations = 207 (2010)
| members = 70,832 (2017)<ref>[http://www.cnewa.org/source-images/Roberson-eastcath-statistics/eastcatholic-stat17.pdf The Eastern Catholic Churches 2017]</ref>
| members = 70,832 (2017)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnewa.org/source-images/Roberson-eastcath-statistics/eastcatholic-stat17.pdf |title=The Eastern Catholic Churches 2017 |access-date=2019-06-19 |archive-date=2018-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024215818/http://www.cnewa.org/source-images/Roberson-eastcath-statistics/eastcatholic-stat17.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| ministers = 590<ref name=cs10/>
| ministers = 590<ref name=cs10/>
| missionaries =
| missionaries =
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}}
}}
{{Eastern Catholicism}}
{{Eastern Catholicism}}
The '''Ethiopian Catholic Church'''{{efn|{{lang-am|የኢትዮጵያ ካቶሊክ ቤተ ክርስቲያን}}; ''{{lang-la|Ecclesia Catholica Aethiopica}}''}} or '''Ethiopian Eastern Catholic Church''' is a ''[[sui iuris]]'' (autonomous) [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic church]] that is based in [[Ethiopia]]. As a [[Catholic particular churches and liturgical rites|particular church]] of the [[Catholic Church]], it is in [[full communion]] with the [[Holy See]]. Established in 1930, the church is organised under a [[metropolitan bishop]] who exercises oversight of a number [[suffragan diocese]]s. In its liturgical services, it uses the [[Alexandrian Rite]] in the [[Ge'ez language]] (a local [[liturgical language]]).
The '''Ethiopian Catholic Church''' is a [[Metropolis (religious jurisdiction)|Metropolitan]] ''[[sui iuris]]'' [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern]] [[particular church]] within the [[Catholic Church]], established in 1930 in [[Ethiopia]].


Like the other [[Eastern Catholic Churches]], the Ethiopian Catholic Church is in [[full communion]] with the [[Holy See]]. It holds the Christological doctrine of the [[Council of Chalcedon]] and accepts the universal jurisdiction of the [[Pope]]. These points distinguish it from the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]], an [[Oriental Orthodox Church]] which comprises most [[Christians]] in the country.
It holds to the Christological doctrines defined at the [[Council of Chalcedon]] and accepts the universal jurisdiction of the [[pope]]. These points distinguish it from the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]], an [[Oriental Orthodox Church]] which comprises most [[Christians]] in the country.

The Ethiopian Catholic Church follows the [[Alexandrian Rite|Alexandrian liturgical rite]] followed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Church]]. As its liturgical language it employs [[Ge'ez language|Ge'ez]], a [[Semitic languages|Semitic]] language that fell out of daily use several centuries ago.

== Terminology ==
The term "Ethiopic Catholic Church", which was synonymous with "Ethiopian Catholic Church" until January 2015, when the [[Eritrean Catholic Church]] was established, can be applied to either church or to both jointly, since their [[liturgy]] is celebrated in the [[Ethiopic]] or [[Ge'ez language]].


==History==
==History==
The [[Portugal|Portuguese]] [[Age of Discovery|voyages of discovery]] opened the way for direct contacts between the [[Catholic Church]] and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. In the 14th century, Catholic missionaries arrived in [[Ethiopia]]. On August 28, 1439, [[Pope Eugene IV]] sent a message of unity with the Catholic Church to [[Emperor of Ethiopia|Ethiopian Emperor]] [[Zara Yaqob|Constantine I]] but this effort was unsuccessful.<ref name=cnewa>{{cite web|last=Roberson|first=Ronald G.|title=The Ethiopian Catholic Church |url=http://www.cnewa.org/default.aspx?ID=64&pagetypeID=9&sitecode=HQ&pageno=1 |work=Eastern Catholic Churches |publisher=Catholic Near East Welfare Association| page= 1 |accessdate=24 January 2012}}</ref>
The [[Portugal|Portuguese]] [[Age of Discovery|voyages of discovery]] opened the way for direct contacts between the [[Catholic Church]] and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. In the 15th century, Catholic missionaries arrived in [[Ethiopia]]. On 28 August 1439, [[Pope Eugene IV]] sent a message of unity with the Catholic Church to [[Emperor of Ethiopia|Ethiopian Emperor]] [[Zara Yaqob|Constantine I]],<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ZkzyEAAAQBAJ&pli=1 |title =Laetentur Caeli: Bulls of Union with the Greeks, Armenians, Coptic, and Ethiopian Churches |isbn = 9798869171504 |last1 = Curtin|first1 = D. P.|date = January 2007}}</ref> but this effort was unsuccessful.<ref name=cnewa>{{cite web|last=Roberson|first=Ronald G.|title=The Ethiopian Catholic Church |url=http://www.cnewa.org/default.aspx?ID=64&pagetypeID=9&sitecode=HQ&pageno=1 |work=Eastern Catholic Churches |publisher=Catholic Near East Welfare Association| page=1 |access-date=24 January 2012}}</ref>


With Islamic attacks up to 1531 threatening Christian Ethiopia, an appeal from the Emperor to the Portuguese brought support to defeat the [[Adal Sultanate]] in the [[Ethiopian–Adal War]]. Jesuit missionaries came with the Portuguese to Ethiopia. These missionaries focused their conversion activities with the country's governing class including the Emperor to have the Ethiopian Orthodox Church unite with the Catholic Church. The Emperor [[Susenyos of Ethiopia|Susenyos]] was converted primarily by Father [[Pedro Páez]]. In 1622, Susenyos made Catholicism the state religion. The next year, [[Pope Gregory XV]] named [[Afonso Mendes]], a Portuguese Jesuit, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Church. A formal union in 1626 was declared when Patriarch Mendes came to the country. With Mendes trying to [[Liturgical Latinisation|Latinize]] the Ethiopian church, Susenyos used force to impose the latinization. Public backlash resulted. In 1632, Susenyos died. His successor [[Fasilides of Ethiopia|Fasilides]] in 1636 removed Mendes from the country, ended the union with [[Catholic Church|Rome]] and removed or killed the remaining missionaries. For the next 200 years, Ethiopia was closed to Catholic Missions.<ref name=cnewa/>
With Islamic attacks up to 1531 threatening Christian Ethiopia, an appeal from the Emperor to the Portuguese brought support to defeat the [[Adal Sultanate]] in the [[Ethiopian–Adal War]]. [[Jesuit]] missionaries came with the Portuguese to Ethiopia. These missionaries focused their conversion activities on the country's governing class, including the Emperor, to have the Ethiopian Orthodox Church unite with the Catholic Church. The Emperor [[Susenyos of Ethiopia|Susenyos]] was converted primarily by Father [[Pedro Páez]]. In 1622, Susenyos made Catholicism the state religion. The next year, [[Pope Gregory XV]] named [[Afonso Mendes]], a Portuguese Jesuit, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Church. A formal union in 1626 was declared when Patriarch Mendes came to the country. With Mendes trying to [[Liturgical Latinisation|Latinize]] the Ethiopian church, Susenyos used force to impose the Latinization. Public backlash resulted. In 1632, Susenyos died. His successor [[Fasilides of Ethiopia|Fasilides]] in 1636 removed Mendes from the country, ended the union with [[Catholic Church|Rome]] and removed or killed the remaining missionaries. For the next 200 years, Ethiopia was closed to Catholic Missions.<ref name=cnewa/>


In 1839, Italian [[Congregation of the Mission|Lazarists]] and [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchins]] resumed, albeit within certain limitations imposed due to strong public opposition. That same year, [[Justin de Jacobis]] was appointed first [[Apostolic prefect|Prefect Apostolic]] of [[Ethiopian Empire|Abyssinia]] and entrusted with the foundation of Catholic missions in that country. After laboring with great success in Abyssinia for eight years, he was appointed [[titular Bishop]] of [[Nilopolis]] in 1847, and shortly afterwards [[Apostolic vicariate|Vicar Apostolic of Abyssinia]], but he refused the [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|episcopal]] dignity until it was finally forced upon him in 1849.<ref name=ce>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Blessed Justin de Jacobis}}</ref>
In 1839, Italian [[Congregation of the Mission|Lazarist]] and [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchins]] missionaries arrived, albeit within certain limitations imposed on them due to strong public opposition. That same year, [[Justin de Jacobis]] was appointed first [[Apostolic prefect|Prefect Apostolic]] of [[Ethiopian Empire|Abyssinia]] and entrusted with the foundation of Catholic missions in that country. After laboring with great success in Abyssinia for eight years, he was appointed [[titular Bishop]] of [[Nilopolis]] in 1847, and shortly afterwards [[Apostolic vicariate|Vicar Apostolic of Abyssinia]], but he refused the [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|episcopal]] dignity until it was finally forced upon him in 1849.<ref name=ce>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Blessed Justin de Jacobis}}</ref>


In 1919, the Pontifical Ethiopian College was founded within the Vatican walls by [[Pope Benedict XV]] with St. Stephen's Church, behind [[St. Peter's Basilica]], as the designated church for the College.<ref name=cnewa2/>
In 1919, the Pontifical Ethiopian College was founded within the Vatican walls by [[Pope Benedict XV]] with St. Stephen's Church, behind [[St. Peter's Basilica]], as the designated church for the College.<ref name=cnewa2/>


The [[Latin Church]] had become established in the south of Ethiopia in areas that had not been [[Christians|Christian]] and that were incorporated into the modern country only at the end of the 19th century. The [[Italian occupation of Ethiopia]] in 1936 gave rise to an increase in the number of Latin-Church jurisdictions, but the expulsion of foreign missionaries at the end of the [[Second World War]] meant that the Ethiopic Rite clergy had to take responsibility for areas thus denuded of Catholic clergy. Accordingly, in 1951, the Ethiopic Rite Apostolic [[Exarchate]] of [[Addis Ababa]] was established, and the ordinariate for Eritrea was elevated to the rank of exarchate. Ten years later, on February 20, 1961, an Ethiopic ecclesiastical province was established, with Addis Ababa as the [[Metropolitan See]]<ref name=madaa>{{cite web|title=Metropolitan Archdiocese of Addis Abeba|url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/addi0.htm |work=GCatholic.org|accessdate=24 January 2012}}</ref> and [[Asmara]] (in Eritrea) and [[Adigrat]] (in Ethiopia) as suffragan eparchies.<ref name=cnewa/>
The [[Latin Church]] had become established in the south of Ethiopia in areas that had not been [[Christians|Christian]] and that were incorporated into the modern country only at the end of the 19th century. The [[Italian occupation of Ethiopia]] in 1936 gave rise to an increase in the number of Latin-Church jurisdictions, but the expulsion of foreign missionaries at the end of the [[Second World War]] meant that the Ethiopic Rite clergy had to take responsibility for areas thus denuded of Catholic clergy. Accordingly, in 1951, the Ethiopic Rite Apostolic [[Exarchate]] of [[Addis Ababa]] was established, and the ordinariate for Eritrea was elevated to the rank of exarchate. Ten years later, on 20 February 1961, an Ethiopic ecclesiastical province was established, with Addis Ababa as the [[Metropolitan See]]<ref name=madaa>{{cite web|title=Metropolitan Archdiocese of Addis Abeba|url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/addi0.htm |work=GCatholic.org|access-date=24 January 2012}}</ref> and [[Asmara]] (in Eritrea) and [[Adigrat]] (in Ethiopia) as suffragan eparchies.<ref name=cnewa/>


[[File:Archbishop Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ethiopian Catholic Archeparchy of Addis Abeba|Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Abeba]] [[Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel]]]]
[[File:Archbishop Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ethiopian Catholic Archeparchy of Addis Abeba|Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Abeba]] [[Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel]]]]
In 1995, two new eparchies, [[Barentu, Eritrea|Barentu]] and [[Keren, Eritrea|Keren]], were established in Eritrea,<ref name=cs10>{{cite web|last=Roberson|first=Ronald G.|title=The Eastern Catholic Churches 2010|url=http://www.cnewa.org/source-images/Roberson-eastcath-statistics/eastcatholic-stat10.pdf|work=Eastern Catholic Churches Statistics|publisher=Catholic Near East Welfare Association|accessdate=28 December 2011}}</ref> and the Latin-Church apostolic vicariate was abolished. Eritrea thus became the only country where all Catholics, whatever Church of their canonical ascription, belong to an [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic]] jurisdiction.<ref name=cnewa2>{{cite web|last=Roberson|first=Ronald G.|title=The Ethiopian Catholic Church |url=http://www.cnewa.org/default.aspx?ID=64&pagetypeID=9&sitecode=HQ&pageno=2 |work=Eastern Catholic Churches |publisher=Catholic Near East Welfare Association| page= 2 |accessdate=24 January 2012}}</ref> In 2003, one more eparchy was created in [[Endibir]] in the [[Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region]] of Ethiopia.<ref name=madaa/>
In 1995, two new eparchies, [[Barentu, Eritrea|Barentu]] and [[Keren, Eritrea|Keren]], were established in Eritrea,<ref name=cs10>{{cite web|last=Roberson|first=Ronald G.|title=The Eastern Catholic Churches 2010|url=http://www.cnewa.org/source-images/Roberson-eastcath-statistics/eastcatholic-stat10.pdf|work=Eastern Catholic Churches Statistics|publisher=Catholic Near East Welfare Association|access-date=28 December 2011|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923222256/http://www.cnewa.org/source-images/Roberson-eastcath-statistics/eastcatholic-stat10.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Latin-Church apostolic vicariate was abolished. Eritrea thus became the only country where all Catholics, whatever Church of their canonical ascription, belong to an [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic]] jurisdiction.<ref name=cnewa2>{{cite web|last=Roberson|first=Ronald G.|title=The Ethiopian Catholic Church |url=http://www.cnewa.org/default.aspx?ID=64&pagetypeID=9&sitecode=HQ&pageno=2 |work=Eastern Catholic Churches |publisher=Catholic Near East Welfare Association| page= 2 |access-date=24 January 2012}}</ref> In 2003, one more eparchy was created in [[Endibir]] in the [[Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region]] of Ethiopia.<ref name=madaa/>


In January 2015 [[Pope Francis]] established the [[Eritrean Catholic Church]] as a ''[[sui iuris]]'' [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic Church]], thus granting it autonomy from the Ethiopian Catholic Church.<ref name="Eritrean Catholic Church">{{cite web | url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/de/bollettino/pubblico/2015/01/19/0048/00098.html | title=Erezione della Chiesa Metropolitana sui iuris eritrea e nomina del primo Metropolita | publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] | date=January 19, 2015 | accessdate=January 19, 2015}}</ref>
In January 2015 [[Pope Francis]] established the [[Eritrean Catholic Church]] as a ''[[sui iuris]]'' [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic Church]], thus granting it autonomy from the Ethiopian Catholic Church.<ref name="Eritrean Catholic Church">{{cite web | url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/de/bollettino/pubblico/2015/01/19/0048/00098.html | title=Erezione della Chiesa Metropolitana sui iuris eritrea e nomina del primo Metropolita | publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] | date=January 19, 2015 | access-date=January 19, 2015}}</ref>


There are also [[Latin Church]] jurisdictions in the south of Ethiopia, none of them raised to the rank of [[diocese]]. Eight are [[apostolic vicariate]]s and one is an [[apostolic prefect]]ure.
There are also [[Latin Church]] jurisdictions in the south of Ethiopia, none of them raised to the rank of [[diocese]]. Eight are [[apostolic vicariate]]s and one is an [[apostolic prefect]]ure.


==Eparchies==
==Eparchies==
There are four [[Eparchy|eparchies]] ([[diocese|bishopric]]s) in the country:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/rite/det2.html|title=Ethiopian Catholic Church Current Dioceses|publisher=|accessdate=12 October 2018}}</ref>
There are four [[Eparchy|eparchies]] ([[diocese|bishopric]]s) in the country:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/rite/det2.html|title=Ethiopian Catholic Church Current Dioceses|access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref>
[[File:EthiopianCatholicJurisdictions.png|left|thumb|A map of Ethiopian Catholic jurisdictions]]
⚫
*[[Ethiopian Catholic Archeparchy of Addis Abeba|Archeparchy of Addis Abeba]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/daddi.html|title=Archeparchy of Addis Abeba (Ethiopian)|publisher=|accessdate=12 October 2018}}</ref> (metropolitan see)
*[[Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat|Eparchy of Adigrat]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dadig.html|title=Eparchy of Adigrat (Ethiopian)|publisher=|accessdate=12 October 2018}}</ref>
*[[Ethiopian Catholic Archeparchy of Addis Abeba|Archeparchy of Addis Abeba]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/daddi.html|title=Archeparchy of Addis Abeba (Ethiopian)|access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref> (metropolitan see)
*[[Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Bahir Dar–Dessie|Eparchy of Bahir Dar–Dessie]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dbahd.html|title=Eparchy of Bahir Dar - Dessie (Ethiopian)|publisher=|accessdate=12 October 2018}}</ref>
*[[Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat|Eparchy of Adigrat]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dadig.html|title=Eparchy of Adigrat (Ethiopian)|access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref>
*[[Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Emdeber|Eparchy of Emdeber]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/demde.html|title=Eparchy of Emdeber (Ethiopian)|publisher=|accessdate=12 October 2018}}</ref>
*[[Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Bahir Dar–Dessie|Eparchy of Bahir Dar–Dessie]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dbahd.html|title=Eparchy of Bahir Dar - Dessie (Ethiopian)|access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref>
⚫
*[[Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Emdeber|Eparchy of Emdeber]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/demde.html|title=Eparchy of Emdeber (Ethiopian)|access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref>


==Differences between the Catholic and Orthodox Ethiopian Churches==
==Differences between the Catholic and Orthodox Ethiopian churches==
[[File:Interior of Medhani Alem Catholic Church - Adigrat - Ethiopia (8707721278).jpg|thumb|Interior of the Medhani Alem Catholic Church in Adigrat]]
[[File:Interior of Medhani Alem Catholic Church - Adigrat - Ethiopia (8707721278).jpg|thumb|Interior of the Medhani Alem Catholic Church in Adigrat]]
Doctrinal distinctions between the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Catholic Ethiopian Churches include recognition of the fifth-century [[Council of Chalcedon]]. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has a [[Orthodox Tewahedo biblical canon|broader]] [[Biblical canon|canon of Scripture]] than the Catholic Church.<ref>[https://www.ethiopianorthodox.org/english/canonical/books.html Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Faith and Order:The Bible]</ref> The order of the diaconate is reserved for adult men in the Catholic Church, but boys are commonly ordained as deacons in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Ethiopian Catholic clergy also tend to dress in the Roman cassock and collar, distinct from the Ethiopian Orthodox custom.
Doctrinal distinctions between the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Catholic Ethiopian Churches include recognition of the fifth-century [[Council of Chalcedon]]. The order of the diaconate is reserved for adult men in the Catholic Church, but boys are commonly ordained as deacons in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Ethiopian Catholic clergy also tend to dress in the Roman cassock and collar, distinct from the Ethiopian Orthodox custom.


==See also==
==See also==
Line 90: Line 84:
* [[Religion in Ethiopia]]
* [[Religion in Ethiopia]]
* [[List of Catholic dioceses in Ethiopia]]
* [[List of Catholic dioceses in Ethiopia]]

* [[Student Initiative Rahel]], an educational project working together with the [[OVC project]] of the [[Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat]]
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 96: Line 92:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.cnewa.org/default.aspx?ID=64&pagetypeID=9&sitecode=HQ&pageno=1 Article on The Ethiopian Catholic Church by Ronald Roberson on the CNEWA website]
*[https://cnewa.org/eastern-christian-churches/toc/the-catholic-eastern-churches/from-the-oriental-orthodox-churches/the-ethiopian-catholic-church/ Article on The Ethiopian Catholic Church by Ronald Roberson on the CNEWA website]
*[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7192739740385199016&q=Ge%27ez&total=21&start=10&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0 Video of an Ethiopian (Ge'ez rite) Catholic Mass]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7192739740385199016&q=Ge%27ez&total=21&start=10&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0 Video of an Ethiopian (Ge'ez rite) Catholic Mass]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}


Latest revision as of 20:45, 11 May 2024

Not to be confused with Catholic Church in Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Catholic Church
Cathedral of the Holy Saviour, Adigrat
ClassificationOriental Catholic
OrientationOriental Christianity
TheologyCatholic theology
PolityEpiscopal
GovernanceMetropolitanate
PopeFrancis
ArchbishopCardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel[1][2]
RegionEthiopia
LiturgyAlexandrian Rite
HeadquartersAddis Ababa
FounderSaint Mark the Evangelist, by tradition
Congregations207 (2010)
Members70,832 (2017)[3]
Ministers590[4]
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The Ethiopian Catholic Church[a] or Ethiopian Eastern Catholic Church is a sui iuris (autonomous) Eastern Catholic church that is based in Ethiopia. As a particular church of the Catholic Church, it is in full communion with the Holy See. Established in 1930, the church is organised under a metropolitan bishop who exercises oversight of a number suffragan dioceses. In its liturgical services, it uses the Alexandrian Rite in the Ge'ez language (a local liturgical language).

It holds to the Christological doctrines defined at the Council of Chalcedon and accepts the universal jurisdiction of the pope. These points distinguish it from the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, an Oriental Orthodox Church which comprises most Christians in the country.

History

[edit]

The Portuguese voyages of discovery opened the way for direct contacts between the Catholic Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. In the 15th century, Catholic missionaries arrived in Ethiopia. On 28 August 1439, Pope Eugene IV sent a message of unity with the Catholic Church to Ethiopian Emperor Constantine I,[5] but this effort was unsuccessful.[6]

With Islamic attacks up to 1531 threatening Christian Ethiopia, an appeal from the Emperor to the Portuguese brought support to defeat the Adal Sultanate in the Ethiopian–Adal War. Jesuit missionaries came with the Portuguese to Ethiopia. These missionaries focused their conversion activities on the country's governing class, including the Emperor, to have the Ethiopian Orthodox Church unite with the Catholic Church. The Emperor Susenyos was converted primarily by Father Pedro Páez. In 1622, Susenyos made Catholicism the state religion. The next year, Pope Gregory XV named Afonso Mendes, a Portuguese Jesuit, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Church. A formal union in 1626 was declared when Patriarch Mendes came to the country. With Mendes trying to Latinize the Ethiopian church, Susenyos used force to impose the Latinization. Public backlash resulted. In 1632, Susenyos died. His successor Fasilides in 1636 removed Mendes from the country, ended the union with Rome and removed or killed the remaining missionaries. For the next 200 years, Ethiopia was closed to Catholic Missions.[6]

In 1839, Italian Lazarist and Capuchins missionaries arrived, albeit within certain limitations imposed on them due to strong public opposition. That same year, Justin de Jacobis was appointed first Prefect Apostolic of Abyssinia and entrusted with the foundation of Catholic missions in that country. After laboring with great success in Abyssinia for eight years, he was appointed titular Bishop of Nilopolis in 1847, and shortly afterwards Vicar Apostolic of Abyssinia, but he refused the episcopal dignity until it was finally forced upon him in 1849.[7]

In 1919, the Pontifical Ethiopian College was founded within the Vatican walls by Pope Benedict XV with St. Stephen's Church, behind St. Peter's Basilica, as the designated church for the College.[1]

The Latin Church had become established in the south of Ethiopia in areas that had not been Christian and that were incorporated into the modern country only at the end of the 19th century. The Italian occupation of Ethiopia in 1936 gave rise to an increase in the number of Latin-Church jurisdictions, but the expulsion of foreign missionaries at the end of the Second World War meant that the Ethiopic Rite clergy had to take responsibility for areas thus denuded of Catholic clergy. Accordingly, in 1951, the Ethiopic Rite Apostolic Exarchate of Addis Ababa was established, and the ordinariate for Eritrea was elevated to the rank of exarchate. Ten years later, on 20 February 1961, an Ethiopic ecclesiastical province was established, with Addis Ababa as the Metropolitan See[2] and Asmara (in Eritrea) and Adigrat (in Ethiopia) as suffragan eparchies.[6]

Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Abeba Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel

In 1995, two new eparchies, Barentu and Keren, were established in Eritrea,[4] and the Latin-Church apostolic vicariate was abolished. Eritrea thus became the only country where all Catholics, whatever Church of their canonical ascription, belong to an Eastern Catholic jurisdiction.[1] In 2003, one more eparchy was created in Endibir in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia.[2]

In January 2015 Pope Francis established the Eritrean Catholic Church as a sui iuris Eastern Catholic Church, thus granting it autonomy from the Ethiopian Catholic Church.[8]

There are also Latin Church jurisdictions in the south of Ethiopia, none of them raised to the rank of diocese. Eight are apostolic vicariates and one is an apostolic prefecture.

Eparchies

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There are four eparchies (bishoprics) in the country:[9]

A map of Ethiopian Catholic jurisdictions

Differences between the Catholic and Orthodox Ethiopian churches

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Interior of the Medhani Alem Catholic Church in Adigrat

Doctrinal distinctions between the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Catholic Ethiopian Churches include recognition of the fifth-century Council of Chalcedon. The order of the diaconate is reserved for adult men in the Catholic Church, but boys are commonly ordained as deacons in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Ethiopian Catholic clergy also tend to dress in the Roman cassock and collar, distinct from the Ethiopian Orthodox custom.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ካቶሊክ ቤተ ክርስቲያን; Latin: Ecclesia Catholica Aethiopica

References

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  1. ^ a b c Roberson, Ronald G. "The Ethiopian Catholic Church". Eastern Catholic Churches. Catholic Near East Welfare Association. p. 2. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Metropolitan Archdiocese of Addis Abeba". GCatholic.org. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  3. ^ "The Eastern Catholic Churches 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-10-24. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  4. ^ a b Roberson, Ronald G. "The Eastern Catholic Churches 2010" (PDF). Eastern Catholic Churches Statistics. Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  5. ^ Curtin, D. P. (January 2007). Laetentur Caeli: Bulls of Union with the Greeks, Armenians, Coptic, and Ethiopian Churches. ISBN 9798869171504.
  6. ^ a b c Roberson, Ronald G. "The Ethiopian Catholic Church". Eastern Catholic Churches. Catholic Near East Welfare Association. p. 1. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  7. ^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Blessed Justin de Jacobis" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  8. ^ "Erezione della Chiesa Metropolitana sui iuris eritrea e nomina del primo Metropolita". Holy See Press Office. January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  9. ^ "Ethiopian Catholic Church Current Dioceses". Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Archeparchy of Addis Abeba (Ethiopian)". Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Eparchy of Adigrat (Ethiopian)". Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  12. ^ "Eparchy of Bahir Dar - Dessie (Ethiopian)". Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Eparchy of Emdeber (Ethiopian)". Retrieved 12 October 2018.
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