Posted on 01/27/2011 9:53:14 PM PST by marshmallow
An 15th century Ethiopian icon of the infant Christ child sitting on his mother's knee was discovered after it was cleaned by a British charity.
The central panel of the triptych had over the centuries become blackened with the sprinkling of perfume that the monks use as they worship.
The hugely important and stunning painted wood panel is now visible in its original coloured glory, showing a pale-faced Jesus with black curly hair and rosy cheeks.
His hand has three digits raised and two down as if blessing the person looking at him.
He has a halo and is wearing a gown and is perched on his mother's knee and she too has a halo.
The monks at the Monastery of St Stephen on an island in Lake Hayq in the north of the African country believe the icon, known as The One Who Listens, to be miraculous.
The artist had great skill, which is particularly obvious in the detail of Mary's robes.
In the central panel are three other figures, two archangels, Michael and Gabriel, armed with swords ready to protect the saviour and the third, St Stephen, after whom the monastery is named.
The side panels have 12 figures upon them all looking inwards towards the central picture.
They include Abuna TeklelyesusMoa, who sponsored the work, various saints including St Peter and St Paul, and abbots from the monastery.
It is one of the most celebrated icons in Ethiopia and is now housed in a special museum with other ancient relics.
The British charity The Ethiopian Heritage Fund sent experts to preserve the painting that had previously been covered with varnish.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Ping!
Very nice: reverent, powerful, honest, respectful. We definitely need the swords from the Archangels.
Just lovely.
That triptych is just exquisite!
If I understand correctly, the Ethiopians were converted in the 4th Century by a Syrian missionary. Then the Muslim conquest cut them off from the rest of Christendom. Ever since then, The Ethiopians have been considered our no-respect, smelly, black cousins.
Actually, the Ethiopians date their conversion from the time when an Ethiopian was baptised in Acts
Ethiopia was one of the first Christian Kingdoms on earth.
According to one of the Ethiopian Church’s Holy Books, the Kebra Nagast, Sheba was from Ethiopia, and her son by King Solomon, Menelek, brought the Ark of the Covenant to Axum, the capital city.
Many people believe the Ark resides in the Church of St. Mary in Axum today and so do I.
Ethiopia has a group of black Jews there, the Falashas, who practice a form of Judaism arrested in time from the days of the evil King Manasseh. Its is believed they are the descendants of Jewish high priests who fled there to escape him.
But today, Ethiopia, like Nigeria and western Europe, is threatened by the blasted dark obscenity of international Islam. A dire fate after years of Soviet supported tyranny under a monstrous dictator Mengistu, who murdered the last Christian King of Ethiopia Halie Selassie, a descendant of Menelik.
Ethiopian Orthodox Church set to unveil Arc of the Covenant June 25, 2009
Thanks for that — as I read on wikipedia, Falasha is actually a term of disrespect meaning outcastes. They call themselves Beta Israel. But a fascinating story — thank you for bringing it up
You wrote:
“Ever since then, The Ethiopians have been considered our no-respect, smelly, black cousins.”
By whom?
|
· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe · |
|||
Antiquity Journal & archive Archaeologica Archaeology Archaeology Channel BAR Bronze Age Forum Discover Dogpile Eurekalert LiveScience Mirabilis.ca Nat Geographic PhysOrg Science Daily Science News Texas AM Yahoo Excerpt, or Link only? |
|
||
|
· Science topic · science keyword · Books/Literature topic · pages keyword · |
|||
I thought the Apostle Mark brought Christianity to Africa around 45 AD starting the Coptic and Ethiopian Christian churches. The Apostle Thomas went to the southwest coast of India and converted followers to Christ.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
