St Frumentius Bishop

 

 

St Frumentius Bishop,

Confessor (c.308-c.380)

Saint Of the day October 27

 

Frumentius and Aedesius were young Greek disciples of Meropius, a philosopher from Tyre in Phoenicia whom they were reportedly accompanying on a voyage to India. Their vessel was shipwrecked on the Abyssinian coast and the entire crew perished while the two youths were captured and pressed into service at the court of the King of Abyssinia. When they grew to manhood, they were given their liberty and assigned positions of trust; St Frumentius was even made Royal administrator. On the death of the King whom they had succeeded in converting, the widowed Queen prevailed upon the brothers to supervise the education of the Princes. Frumentius used his position and influence to advance the spread of Christianity; Aedesius returned to Tyre after some years and became a Priest there.

 

In the interest of furthering the Christianization of Abyssinia, St Frumentius went to Egypt and requested St Athanasius to send a bishop and some priests to his adopted country. To the holy Patriarch, Frumentius seemed the most suitable man, and so he consecrated him bishop. The See was established at Axum; the young King was baptized, many churches were built, and the Faith spread all through the kingdom. St Frumentius, is believed to have made the first translation of the New Testament into Ethiopian. The people reverenced him as Abuna (Father), or Abba Salama (Father of Peace), titles which are to this day given to the Metropolitan of the Ethiopian Church.