Christianity in Ethiopia and Eritrea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christianity in Ethiopia and Eritrea |
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| Classification | Eastern Christianity |
| Orientation | Oriental Orthodoxy, Orthodox Tewahedo, Protestantism, Evangelicalism, Eastern Protestant Christianity, Pentecostalism, Lutheranism, Baptist, Holiness Baptists, Mennonite-Anabaptist, Holiness movement, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, Adventist, Catholicism. |
| Region | Ethiopia and Eritrea, United States, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, Israel-Palestine, Kenya, Australia, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Ethiopian-Eritrean Diaspora |
| Language | Geʽez (liturgical language), Languages of Ethiopia, Languages of Eritrea, Oromo, Amharic, Wolayta, Sidama, Tigrinya, Somali, (other languages), Diaspora Languages (English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, French, Dutch, Hebrew, Finnish), etc. |
| Liturgy | Alexandrian Rite |
| Founder |
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Christianity is the biggest religion in both Ethiopia and Eritrea. It's also very important for the Habesha people and those living in other countries (their diaspora). Christianity has a long history in this part of Africa. It started way back in the ancient Kingdom of Aksum.
Around 328 AD, King Ezana became a Christian. Soon after, Christianity became the official religion of his kingdom. Later, it became the main religion of the Ethiopian Empire. Today, Eastern Christianity is the main type of Christianity in these countries.
There are a few different Christian groups in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The oldest and largest group is the Orthodox Tewahedo churches. These are Oriental Orthodox churches that share similar beliefs and cultures. The second largest group is called P'ent'ay. This is a name for several Evangelical Protestant churches. The third main Christian group in the region is the Catholic Church.
Orthodox Tewahedo
The Orthodox Tewahedo churches are the oldest Christian groups in Ethiopia and Eritrea. They are part of a larger family of churches called Oriental Orthodoxy. These churches have their own unique traditions and history. They separated from other major Christian churches a very long time ago, in the 5th century.
The word "Tewahedo" means "being made one" or "unity" in the ancient Ge'ez language. It refers to a belief about Jesus Christ. The two main churches in this group are the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. They used to be one church but became separate in 1998.
These churches use the ancient Geʽez language for their church services. They have many special traditions, like long fasting periods and a unique calendar. Their churches are often beautifully decorated with paintings and icons. Many people in Ethiopia and Eritrea follow this ancient Christian faith.
P'ent'ay (Ethiopian-Eritrean Evangelicalism)
P'ent'ay is the name given to Evangelical Protestant churches in Ethiopia and Eritrea. This group has grown a lot in recent times. The word "P'ent'ay" comes from "Pentecostal," but it is used more broadly for many Evangelical groups.
These churches often focus on a personal relationship with God. They emphasize studying the Bible and sharing their faith with others. They also often have lively worship services with singing and dancing. Many different types of Protestant churches are part of the P'ent'ay movement. These include Pentecostal, Baptist, and Lutheran churches.
Catholicism (Catholic Church)
The Catholic Church is also present in Ethiopia and Eritrea. There are two main types of Catholic churches in the region. One is the Ethiopian Catholic Church and the Eritrean Catholic Church. These are called Eastern Catholic Churches. They are in full communion with the Pope in Rome. However, they keep their own unique traditions and ways of worship, which are similar to the Orthodox Tewahedo churches. They use the Ge'ez rite for their services.
There are also some Roman Catholics in the region. They follow the Latin Rite, which is the most common form of Catholicism around the world. The Catholic Church in Ethiopia and Eritrea works to provide education and healthcare. They run schools and hospitals in many areas.
