New Britain herald., 1929-08-02
GROWN NEW Ab00NA IN AFRICAN LAND
Head of Christian Church in
 Ethiopia Takes Office

Washington, D. C., Aug. 2-Ethi- , opia has a new Aboona.
 | He was installed in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia (Abyssinia) a few weeks ago with as great pomp and ceremony as that which has ac- companied the crowning of many emperors. A bulletin from the Wash ington, D. C.. headquarters of the National Geographic society tells something of this unique official. "Ethiopia is a barbaric country in some respects almost savage" says the bulletin, yet it is one of the oldest of the Christian nations, and it takes it's Christianity, in form at least, very seriously. The Philippians early in the fourth century and have steadfastly held on to their faith often defending it with the sword. Their church thus lacks only few hundred years of being as old as Christianity itself
 From Judaism to Christianity
 "The Aboona is the head of the ADN NSSlllldll CI LII Cll. anu illS OlllNt, with all it's restrictions and power, dates from the introduction of the faith Christianity came to Ethiopia romantically. One legend relates that Frumentius, who converted the king and people, was shipwrecked on the Red Sea coast which Ethiopia then possessed. Another version has it that this studious youth was taken prisoner when the merchant ship on which he was travelling touched Ethiopian soil in search of water. At any rate he. settled in the country and became interested in introducing Christianity.
 "Frumentus found Ethiopians practicing Jewish rites: for there is much Jewish blood among this peo- pie, contributed by immigrants who came south from Palestine and crossed the Red Sea. The undoubted evidences of Jewish influences n Ethiopia today, even in their Chris tian churches, lends color to the claim of the kings of the country that they are descended from King SOlO1nOn ana lHb NSutti ol oAlopo' the latter ruler of Ethiopia
 "Frumentius made journey to Alexandria, Egypt, had himself con- secrated as a priest and was ap- pointed bishop Of the Coptic Christian faith with Ethiopia for his see. He returned to his adopted land and devoted his life to converting hro h nf the Christian church.
 AboOna is an Alien
 Thus Frumentius became the first of a long line of Abyssinian Aboonas which has been broken only once in 16 centuries. Always the Aboona is an Egyptian and a member of the Coptic church. Always he is ap- pointed by the head of that branch of Christianity, the Patriarch of Alexandria. and is sent to Ethiopia to be leader of the Christians of that country for life. He is supposed never 10 leave the country after his appointment but in recent years this rule was relaxed to permit the late Aboona to obtain medical treatment in Egypt.
 "The Aboona is in effect a papal' legate, with the Patriarch of Alex andria standing in place of the Ro- man Pontiff, and the Alexandrian Synod in the place of the College of Cardinals. Through this contact the Abyssinian church has been kept through the centuries in accord. in all essentials, with Coptic Christi anity in spite of the rather low cul- tural level of the great mass of Ethiopians.
 "The Aboona is the spiritual lead CT of the Philippians. Under him are all bishops and priests, and from him they receive their ordination. He crowns kings and emperors and of fciates at all great public religious ceremonies.
 Etchequie loud Church Purse
 Strings
 But although recognizing the many advantages, in their state of culture, of having an alien spiritual