Bringing Light to Ethiopia

St. Frumentius’ faith faced a challenge in the 350s when trouble came from the Roman Empire. Emperor Constantius, who held wrong beliefs about Christ’s divinity, sent messengers to Aksum, urging them to replace Frumentius with an Arian bishop. But King Ezana, loyal to his teacher, refused to replace him. Frumentius stood firm, praying for Christ to protect Aksum’s Christians and keep their faith true.

The Arians had imperial power, but Frumentius trusted in God. Constantius’ letter tried to sway Aksum, but Frumentius wouldn’t yield. He sought help from St. Athanasius in Alexandria, who defended him against the emperor. For Coptic children, this ties Frumentius to their brave Pope Athanasius; for Ethiopian children, it’s their Abba Salama guarding the truth.

Frumentius’ courage shone in this quiet battle. He fought not with swords but with prayers and wisdom, keeping Ethiopia’s faith pure. His stand ensured Christ’s true divinity stayed strong in the land he loved, making him a saint we cherish today.