Are the Ethiopian Orthodox Judaizers?

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Justice
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Are the Ethiopian Orthodox Judaizers?

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The Ethiopian "Orthodox" certainly show signs of Judaizing as they keep kosher, and keep the sabbath. Does this reflect early Christianity or is it Judaizing?

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Maria
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Re: Are the Ethiopian Orthodox Judaizers?

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Ethiopians were converted through the martyrdom of Saint Matthew the Apostle.

St. Matthew was martyred by the Ethiopian king, who initially resisted the Christian faith, but who was granted the grace of repentance. He not only became a Christian, but also encouraged his fellow country to also convert. He was ordained and consecrated a bishop. At his consecration, he was given the name of Matthew.

Most of the Ethiopians at the time of the martyrdom of St. Matthew were Jews of the line of Queen Sheba, one of the wives of King Solomon. They were guardians of the Ark of the Covenant because the Jews had fallen into idolatry. Thus, it is not surprising that they have kept some Jewish traditions.

However, the major difference between the Ethiopian Orthodox and the True Orthodox is that they are non-Chalcedonians, so they are not in communion with us.

Reference: The Lives of the Apostles, Buena Vista, Colorado

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Justice
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Re: Are the Ethiopian Orthodox Judaizers?

Post by Justice »

Maria wrote:

Ethiopians were converted through the martyrdom of Saint Matthew the Apostle.

St. Matthew was martyred by the Ethiopian king, who initially resisted the Christian faith, but who was granted the grace of repentance. He not only became a Christian, but also encouraged his fellow country to also convert. He was ordained and consecrated a bishop. At his consecration, he was given the name of Matthew.

Most of the Ethiopians at the time of the martyrdom of St. Matthew were Jews of the line of Queen Sheba, one of the wives of King Solomon. They were guardians of the Ark of the Covenant because the Jews had fallen into idolatry. Thus, it is not surprising that they have kept some Jewish traditions.

However, the major difference between the Ethiopian Orthodox and the True Orthodox is that they are non-Chalcedonians, so they are not in communion with us.

Reference: The Lives of the Apostles, Buena Vista, Colorado

Interesting to know they aren't a form of Judaized Christianity. I guess the main difference would be that the Judaizers insisted on keeping the OT law while the Ethiopians don't fully enforce this.

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Maria
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Re: Are the Ethiopian Orthodox Judaizers?

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Exactly.

Most of the Messianic Jews today are converts from Protestantism, not from Judaism. However, one of the founders of the Messianic Jews was a ethnic Jew, and he not only converted to Messianic Judaism when he accepted Christ, but also later on he converted to Orthodox Christianity and became an Antiochian Priest, the Rev. James Bernstein.
cf. http://www.antiochian.org/biography-fr-james-bernstein

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

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