In
America we tend to keep everything secret; our age, weight, religion, and
income are all taboo subjects that we tread softly around, and avoid if
possible. It doesn't make sense to me, though.
For many people, religion is a big part of who they are. It shapes much of what they do and become in
life. It is for me. I can't explain who I am without talking
about how I worship and what standards I live by. It has made me the person I am. Another point to consider is that most
religions teach to be not ashamed of what you believe. Ethiopians live that. They openly worship and practice their
religion without shame or embarrassment.
In Ethiopia, religion is neither taboo nor avoided. In fact, many times it is easy to know which
faith a person belongs to by their appearance.
Often, Christians would wear a black string around their necks, or they
would wear a cross. The most common
cross that I saw was very unique and beautiful. Crosses are seen all over the
country – in the clothing, in jewelry, and in many of the handicrafts they
make. It was also very common to see
women with head coverings or scarves on as they walked to church or in their
worship. White is the most common color
used in the religious scarves, and it was very beautiful.
Islam is the second most-widely practiced religion in
Ethiopia. Many women wore a burqa or
hijab.
There was never a moment that I spent in Ethiopia that I
didn't see a reminder of some sort of religion or worship. Many times we would see people praying or
kissing the gates of the church grounds.
I loved it. It didn't bother me
that not everyone believes the same as I do, nor worships in the same way.
Anytime a religion helps people draw closer to their God and become better, it
blesses the country and her people.
Ethiopia has a wonderful religious history, and because it
is the only country in Africa that was never colonized, much of that history
has been preserved. Many of the
religious sights are still standing, and are used for religious worship.
The eleven rock-hewn churches in Lalibela are some of the
greatest Ethiopian architecture. They
were listed as the eighth most incredible historical sight in the world by
UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization). The churches in Lalibela are used for regular
worship, and thousands of Ethiopians gather there during the religious ceremony
of the Ethiopian Epiphany.
The Ark of the Covenant is another piece of history from
Ethiopia. According to Ethiopian history, the Queen of Sheba, who ruled over
Ethiopia, had a relationship with King Solomon that resulted in a son. The Ark of the Covenant was said to have been
brought to the country by Menelik who claimed to be the son of Queen of Sheba
and King Solomon. It is said that the
Ark of the Covenant rests in a small chapel in the Saint Mary of Zion church in
Aksum. The Ark of the Covenant is very
important in the Orthodox Tehahedo Christain faith. Aksum also hosts the archaelogical remains of
the palace of the Queen of Sheba, tombs of many kings, and the stunning Stelae
(obelisks).
The country of Ethiopia is mentioned thirty-seven times in
The King James Bible. The Christain
religion has deep roots in the country.
However, Christianity is not the only religion with history
in Ethiopia. Islam history dates back to
615 when the Muhammed counseled some followers to flee to Ethiopia from Mecca
to avoid persecution. That was the very
first hijrah (or migration). Harar is
listed by UNESCO as the fourth holiest Muslim city with 82 mosques and 102
shrines.
So much amazing history rests in the country, and the people
are proud of it. They don't hide it or
keep it secret. It's such an important
part of their lives. The history of
religion and the unrestricted way that they worship is certainly a beautiful
thing.
No comments:
Post a Comment