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| Selected Speeches |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| Selected Speeches |
| Haile Selassie the First - January 15, 1965 |
Venerable and Holy Fathers,
On this occasion when you Venerable Heads of the Oriental Orthodox
Churches are assembled together in our capital city, it is appropriate to
demonstrate our joy by singing with the Psalmist, "Behold, how good and
The Unity of the Church, as Your Holiness well know it, is the will of God
and ought to be an inspiring example to all men. It should always be a
help and not a hinderance to the unity of men of different religions.
As church history testifies, the church fathers, from the Apostolic period
up to the Third Council (4th century A.D.), did hold Councils to formulate
the doctrines of the church and to draft rules of church administration.
It is with the hope that your meeting will contribute in a significant way to
the unity of the Church, and indirectly to the unity of all men, that We
have invited Your Holinesses and Venerable Fathers to our capital city.
Today not only the church, but also the political powers of the world are
frequently meeting, leaving their differences aside, to tackle common
problems, and find ways and means for the achievement and preservation
of world peace. The church should not overlook this great task because
she is the origin of peace and fraternity.
Our own Church is as ancient as our faith, and her history is replete with
accounts of the unswerving faith of our people, the inspiring heroism of
our martyrs, the Holiness of our saints. The history of our nation has
always been closely related to the history of our Church, and the Church
has been both the rallying point and the inspirer of our national unity.
Christianity has flourished in Our country, keeping its original features and
character through the centuries. As a nation we have a great debt to the
church for our cultural heritage.
Ethiopia has been from ancient times well known for her hospitality, and
this is not the first time she has welcomed holy fathers like yourselves.
From the 4th century A.D. onward monks and saints have come from
Egypt, Syria and other Christian countries to Ethiopia and have been
received with high honour and great respect. To mention only a few
among those who are canonized in the Ethiopian church the Nine Saints
who came from different countries of the Middle East and Abune
Gebre-Menfus-Kidus are examples. These holy fathers, preaching and
establishing monasteries in various parts of Our country have greatly
contributed to Ethiopian Christianity. Therefore, many churches and
monasteries are dedicated to them in undying memory of the spiritual
services which they rendered to our country.
On this occasion when you Venerable Heads of the Oriental Orthodox
Churches are assembled together in our capital city, it is appropriate to
demonstrate our joy by singing with the Psalmist, "Behold, how good and
The Unity of the Church, as Your Holiness well know it, is the will of God
and ought to be an inspiring example to all men. It should always be a
help and not a hinderance to the unity of men of different religions.
As church history testifies, the church fathers, from the Apostolic period
up to the Third Council (4th century A.D.), did hold Councils to formulate
the doctrines of the church and to draft rules of church administration.
It is with the hope that your meeting will contribute in a significant way to
the unity of the Church, and indirectly to the unity of all men, that We
have invited Your Holinesses and Venerable Fathers to our capital city.
Today not only the church, but also the political powers of the world are
frequently meeting, leaving their differences aside, to tackle common
problems, and find ways and means for the achievement and preservation
of world peace. The church should not overlook this great task because
she is the origin of peace and fraternity.
Our own Church is as ancient as our faith, and her history is replete with
accounts of the unswerving faith of our people, the inspiring heroism of
our martyrs, the Holiness of our saints. The history of our nation has
always been closely related to the history of our Church, and the Church
has been both the rallying point and the inspirer of our national unity.
Christianity has flourished in Our country, keeping its original features and
character through the centuries. As a nation we have a great debt to the
church for our cultural heritage.
Ethiopia has been from ancient times well known for her hospitality, and
this is not the first time she has welcomed holy fathers like yourselves.
From the 4th century A.D. onward monks and saints have come from
Egypt, Syria and other Christian countries to Ethiopia and have been
received with high honour and great respect. To mention only a few
among those who are canonized in the Ethiopian church the Nine Saints
who came from different countries of the Middle East and Abune
Gebre-Menfus-Kidus are examples. These holy fathers, preaching and
establishing monasteries in various parts of Our country have greatly
contributed to Ethiopian Christianity. Therefore, many churches and
monasteries are dedicated to them in undying memory of the spiritual
services which they rendered to our country.
| Chapter XVI |
| Conference Of Oriental Orthodox Churches Jan. 15, 1965 |
| Religion |
| Ancient Ties |
In ancient times, when the Faith of the whole Church was one, Our
country had the closest relations with the Emperors of Christian
Byzantium. At the time when several Christian peoples in the North
became subservient to non-Christian powers, our country gladly provided
asylum to thousands of Christian refugees. It had equally given asylum
from religious persecution at an earlier date to the followers of the founder
of Islam. Only when our own immediate neighbours ceased to be East
become difficult to maintain.
Ethiopia, an island of Christianity, has made her own distinctive
contribution to the Christian faith; for, ever since here conversion to
Christianity she has remained faithful, her age-old ties with the Apostolic
church uninterrupted. For this reason she is universally renowned as the
faithful daughter of St. Mark of Alexandria. The opportunity we have
today to discuss our common interests and problems together is the fruit
of that ancient unity. To defend the faith and to preserve our ancient ties
with your respective countries, our fathers the Emperors of Ethiopia and
the Ethiopian people have exerted great efforts all through our history. We
are grateful to all of them.
It is therefore with great joy that We welcome Your Holinesses to Our
land and to Our Church. Your Holinesses bring with you sacred memories
from the ancient past. Your presence here is a pledge and token of the
desire of all Christians to be one.
Ever since We ascended the historic throne of Ethiopia, We have
considered it Our duty to call for a meeting of the churches who belong to
the same fold. We were praying to God for His help in achieving this holy
purpose, so that He may grant it to us to see this event. In ancient times
the Byzantine emperors used to summon the councils. Our sincere wish
from the very beginning was to see these churches meeting to discuss
their common problems. This wish is in actual fact fulfilled today, and
We are happy to witness it. Therefore, We thank Almighty God first
because He has enabled Us to properly fulfil Our clear duty, and secondly,
because Our long cherished desire has now met with fulfilment.
Henceforth the matter will demand the spiritual unity and hard work of
Your Holinesses. For strength can be achieved through unity, and success
is the fruit of co-operation. There is no doubt that work done through
co-operative spirit shall meet with success. Christ affirmed:
"... That if two of you shall agree on earth
as touching anything that they shall ask, it
shall be done for them of my father which is
in heaven." (Matt. 18:19)
country had the closest relations with the Emperors of Christian
Byzantium. At the time when several Christian peoples in the North
became subservient to non-Christian powers, our country gladly provided
asylum to thousands of Christian refugees. It had equally given asylum
from religious persecution at an earlier date to the followers of the founder
of Islam. Only when our own immediate neighbours ceased to be East
become difficult to maintain.
Ethiopia, an island of Christianity, has made her own distinctive
contribution to the Christian faith; for, ever since here conversion to
Christianity she has remained faithful, her age-old ties with the Apostolic
church uninterrupted. For this reason she is universally renowned as the
faithful daughter of St. Mark of Alexandria. The opportunity we have
today to discuss our common interests and problems together is the fruit
of that ancient unity. To defend the faith and to preserve our ancient ties
with your respective countries, our fathers the Emperors of Ethiopia and
the Ethiopian people have exerted great efforts all through our history. We
are grateful to all of them.
It is therefore with great joy that We welcome Your Holinesses to Our
land and to Our Church. Your Holinesses bring with you sacred memories
from the ancient past. Your presence here is a pledge and token of the
desire of all Christians to be one.
Ever since We ascended the historic throne of Ethiopia, We have
considered it Our duty to call for a meeting of the churches who belong to
the same fold. We were praying to God for His help in achieving this holy
purpose, so that He may grant it to us to see this event. In ancient times
the Byzantine emperors used to summon the councils. Our sincere wish
from the very beginning was to see these churches meeting to discuss
their common problems. This wish is in actual fact fulfilled today, and
We are happy to witness it. Therefore, We thank Almighty God first
because He has enabled Us to properly fulfil Our clear duty, and secondly,
because Our long cherished desire has now met with fulfilment.
Henceforth the matter will demand the spiritual unity and hard work of
Your Holinesses. For strength can be achieved through unity, and success
is the fruit of co-operation. There is no doubt that work done through
co-operative spirit shall meet with success. Christ affirmed:
"... That if two of you shall agree on earth
as touching anything that they shall ask, it
shall be done for them of my father which is
in heaven." (Matt. 18:19)
| ... It is with the hope that your meeting will contribute in a significant way to the unity of the Church, and indirectly to the unity of all men, that We have invited Your Holinessess and Venerable Fathers to our capital city. |
| Restore Contact |
For centuries past our Orthodox Churches have been without contact.
Perhaps that which still divides the two groups is a matter of some
importance. Perhaps it is not. In any case, we live in a time when even
political differences are discussed around the conference table and
peaceful and amicable solutions sought by all. The Church can afford to
do no less.
Our age is characterized by notable advances in the sphere of
communications, and is therefore rightly termed an age of unity and of
coming together. In this connection We recall the noble efforts of
Archbishop Nathan Soderblom of Sweden who took the initiative for the
"Universal Christian Conference" which met in Stockholm as long ago as
1925. We ahve also followed with keen interest the deliberations of the
Ecumenical Council held last November in Vatican City under the spiritual
leadership of Pope Paul the Sixth of Rome.
This Conference may not be able to come to final conclusions here and
now. Yet it behoves the leaders of the Churches to begin to seek ways
and means of reconciliation and collaboration.
Perhaps that which still divides the two groups is a matter of some
importance. Perhaps it is not. In any case, we live in a time when even
political differences are discussed around the conference table and
peaceful and amicable solutions sought by all. The Church can afford to
do no less.
Our age is characterized by notable advances in the sphere of
communications, and is therefore rightly termed an age of unity and of
coming together. In this connection We recall the noble efforts of
Archbishop Nathan Soderblom of Sweden who took the initiative for the
"Universal Christian Conference" which met in Stockholm as long ago as
1925. We ahve also followed with keen interest the deliberations of the
Ecumenical Council held last November in Vatican City under the spiritual
leadership of Pope Paul the Sixth of Rome.
This Conference may not be able to come to final conclusions here and
now. Yet it behoves the leaders of the Churches to begin to seek ways
and means of reconciliation and collaboration.
| Seek Unity, Peace |
As noted in your agenda, you are to consider the problem of peace,
because the world today is facing a great dilemma: the catastrophical
weapons which are the result of human ingenuity, menace the world to the
point of annihilation, and the human race is more than ever in need of the
prayers and support of the Church.
In this fact we have another ground for co-operation with all the Churches
of the world. As the followers of Christ let us not forget how often our
cause has suffered through disunity.
We would like to refer in conclusion to the question of social welfare in
the modern world. For a country can achieve much more in this field if
supported by the church. The will of God will realized and humanity can
society.
We consider it a great blessing to Us and to Our people that Your
Holinesses have come to bless our land with your sacred presence. Our
people and Our Church rejoice to welcome Your Holinesses in our midst.
Holy Fathers, as the spiritual descendants of the Apostles of Christ you
have an eminent responsibility, which responsibility would include the
improvement of the relations of laity with clergy and of church with
society.
We hope and trust that God will guide the discussions here according to
His will and that His power will assist Your Holinesses in finding common
solutions to common problems in the spirit of amity and concord. May
God who helped the 318 Fathers of the council of Nicea enlighten and help
us all.
because the world today is facing a great dilemma: the catastrophical
weapons which are the result of human ingenuity, menace the world to the
point of annihilation, and the human race is more than ever in need of the
prayers and support of the Church.
In this fact we have another ground for co-operation with all the Churches
of the world. As the followers of Christ let us not forget how often our
cause has suffered through disunity.
We would like to refer in conclusion to the question of social welfare in
the modern world. For a country can achieve much more in this field if
supported by the church. The will of God will realized and humanity can
society.
We consider it a great blessing to Us and to Our people that Your
Holinesses have come to bless our land with your sacred presence. Our
people and Our Church rejoice to welcome Your Holinesses in our midst.
Holy Fathers, as the spiritual descendants of the Apostles of Christ you
have an eminent responsibility, which responsibility would include the
improvement of the relations of laity with clergy and of church with
society.
We hope and trust that God will guide the discussions here according to
His will and that His power will assist Your Holinesses in finding common
solutions to common problems in the spirit of amity and concord. May
God who helped the 318 Fathers of the council of Nicea enlighten and help
us all.