AxumAksum is a city in northern Ethiopia. It was the center of the Axumite Kingdom, which emerged around the time of the birth of Jesus Christ and declined in the 12th century due to the shift of the power center of the Ethiopian Empire further to south. The kingdom had their own written language called Ge'ez, and also developed its own style of architecture exemplified by such structures as the obelisk of Axum. The kingdom was at its height under king Ezana, baptized as Abriha, in the 300s A.D. (which was also when it became official Orthodox Christian). The city is considered to be the holiest city of Ethiopia. 75% of the people in the city are Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. The remainder of the population is Sunni Muslim and P'ent'ay. Although Axumite Muslims have attempted to build a mosque in this Ethiopian Orthodox holy city, local Orthodox residents of the town have replied that they must be allowed to build an Ethiopian Orthodox church in Mecca if the Muslims are to be allowed to build a mosque in Aksum. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Axum claims to possess the Ark of the Covenant. The king of Axum provided protection to the early adherents of Muhammad during the Hijra. One of the Muslim refugees who lived in Ethiopia during this time converted to Orthodox Christianity, thus becoming the first known convert from Islam to Christianity. External links
Categories: Axum |
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