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Ethiopia’s Orthodox Christians
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| A woman praying during Palm Sunday celebrations at an Ethiopian Orthodox church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Photo: Norwegian BS/Dag Smemo (ETH05DJ-315.JPG) |
Story and photos by UBS photojournalist Dag Smemo
ETHIOPIA — Some 46 per cent of Ethiopians identify themselves with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The way in which Orthodox congregations use the Bible is therefore of considerable significance to the work of the Bible Society of Ethiopia. The following interviews give an insight into how very positive attitudes towards deepening biblical knowledge are creating a strong rise in demand for Bibles among Orthodox believers.
Resdeber (‘teacher’) Sahelemarim is a member of the Bible Society who is very keen to boost awareness of its work among the country’s Christians.
Guidance
“We
need the Bible Society so that we can have Bibles to give Christians
guidance in their daily lives,” he says.
“I have been teaching Bible classes for 20 years. I often use the Book of Psalms. It’s very important to us in the Orthodox Church: we feel it contains everything we need for guidance, comfort and liturgy. We also regularly study the New Testament. All the students want to have at least their own copy of the New Testament, but we are very short of other materials, such as brochures and Portions, at affordable prices. This is sad, because we know that these materials help people in their spiritual life.
“Anybody who wants to learn about
the Bible is welcome in our classes. On Saturdays and Sundays there
are classes almost all day! During the week, people attend after school
or work. Altogether, our students may number as many as 1,000.”
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| A Palm Sunday procession at an Ethiopian Orthodox church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Photo: Norwegian BS/Dag Smemo (ETH05DJ-286.JPG) |
His eyes light up as he continues to talk about the Bible classes about which he is clearly so passionate.
“I teach because I really want to serve God with my talents and my life,” he says. “My motivation is to serve my people and to give them guidance for their lives. It gives me particular pleasure to see young people find guidance and comfort in the Bible.”
Another Orthodox Christian who has a passion
for Bible teaching is Aba (‘Father’) Firremariam, priest of
the St George congregation in Addis Ababa. He explains that his church
follows a Bible reading program for the whole year.
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| A man dressed up for Palm Sunday celebrations at an Ethiopian Orthodox church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Photo: Norwegian BS/Dag Smemo (ETH05DJ-311.JPG) |
“Some people who have been able to afford Bibles are able to read along,” he says. “But there are many more people – I would say about 75 per cent of the congregation – who want a Bible but cannot afford one. Unfortunately, our church does not have the funds to subsidise or donate Bibles.
“Not owning a Bible doesn’t deter people from attending church, though. In fact, our average congregation on a Sunday numbers between three and four thousand people. We are now hoping to help some of those who do not have a Bible by establishing a study centre where people would be able to study the Bible and Church music and liturgy. This would be able to teach 5,000 students and would be the first school of its kind in Ethiopia.
“We believe that it is important for young people to increase their knowledge of the Bible and the history of the Church.” (WR 396/12 - 09/10.05) [7 photos]