(preliminary)

Ethiopia is an isolated cultural part within Africa. Many cultural developments of this country - such as the evolution of the paintings, which is unique for Africa - can only be understood in relation with the orthodox Christianity.
In the first centuries large Christian parishes grew in the Mediterranean area. The kingdom of Axum became Christian in the 4th century and the Patriarch from Alexandria consecrated Frumentios to the first bishop for Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Christianity went on from Jewish tradition, which is still present in some elements of religious ceremony and the church-schools. Besides the clergy there is the branch of the church scholars; there is the tabot a copy of the Ark of the Covenant, which represents the Holy of the Holiest of an Ethiopian church.
Most oriental Churches separated at the Council of Chalcedon in the 5th century. Today they are called old-oriental or non- Chalcedonian Churches. The Ethiopian Church was more and more isolated with the advance of the Islam, which surrounded eventually Ethiopia and isolated it from the rest of Christianity, particularly since the Christian cultures of Syria, Egypt and Nubia vanished in the following centuries. However, the Christian culture survived in Ethiopia because of its inaccessible geographic position in the highlands, its fertility and its good trade relations with neighbouring countries.

Continuation: Part II

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Germany

Photos:
1: Marx; 2: Lesinski