Jewish Cultural Elements in the Ethiopian Orthodox Täwaḥədo Church

This Monograph Traces How 'jewish' Elements Were Introduced Into And Disseminated Throughout The Ethiopian Orthodox Täwaḥado Church Through A Series Of Multi-layered, Socio-politico-cultural Processes. Drawing On Historical And Literary Evidence, Afework Tracks The Incorporation Of Jewish Features Into The Ethiopian Orthodox Church From Pre-aksumite Christianity, Before The Fourth Century, Through The Sixteenth Century-- Provided By Publisher.,The Ethiopian Orthodox Täwaḥado Church (henceforth Referred To As Eotc Or Eoc) Is One Of The Oldest Churches In The World. From The Outset Of Its 'official' Establishment In Aksum In The First Half Of The Fourth Century, The Church Has Influenced And Shaped The Culture Of A Majority Of Ethiopians. Its Prominence In The Religious And Political Discourse Of The Nation, Particularly Until 1974, Means That The Study Of The Eoc Is An Essential Element Of Understanding Ethiopia. This Fact Has Been Noted In Many Of The Studies Conducted By Both Ethiopians And Non-ethiopians, Which Demonstrate The Place Of The Ethiopian Church In Shaping The Ethiopian Identity. As Such, For Many Centuries European Explorers And Scholars Have Written Extensively On The Relationship Between The Eoc And Other Christian Traditions, As Well As The Disposition Of Its Interaction With Other Non-christian Religions; But More Importantly, They Have Written On Its Unique 'judaeo-hebraic' Elements. These 'jewish' Elements That Inarguably Shaped The Cultural Identity Of Most Ethiopians Are One Of The Principal Topics That Have Interested Ethiopists. The Means By Which Such Elements Were Established In Ethiopia Can Be Rightly Contested: As This Book Aims To Discuss, The Church Appears To Have Remained Faithful To Similar Customs Manifested In The Writings And Spirit Of The Old Testament And/or Cultural Elements Exhibited Among Jews/followers Of Judaism. The Numerous 'judaic' Characteristics Which Seem To Have Been Integrated Into The Religious Life Of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians Can Be Observed In The Daily Social Life Of Ethiopians Living In The Central And Northern Parts Of The Country-- Summary.