The Last Coptic Metropolitan of Ethiopia
Autograph Note, Signed, in Arabic by Kyrillos, the last Egyptian-born Metropolitan of the Ethiopian Empire, “Kyrillos, Matran al-Imbiratturiyyah al-Itiyubiyyah. 10 Abril 1935,” with his Stamp in Amharic and Arabic.
Price: $400.00
About the item
7-3/4 x 5-3/4 inches. 1 vols. The Last Coptic Metropolitan of Ethiopia. Fine.
Item #40395
Until the mid-twentieth century, the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church was a Copt appointed by the Coptic Patriarchate in Egypt. In 1929, four native Ethiopian bishops were ordained to assist the Coptic Metropolitan. Subsequently, with the support of Emperor Haile Selassie (reigned 1930-1974), an agreement was reached with the Copts in 1948 providing for the election of an ethnic Ethiopian Metropolitan to succeed the Metropolitan Kyrillos. Thus when he died in 1951, an assembly of clergy and laity elected an Ethiopian, Basilios, as Metropolitan, and the autonomy of the Ethiopian Church was established; eight years later he was confirmed by the Coptic Patriarchate as the first Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
