Millenium Exhibition Opened

An exhibition which reflects the contributions our church has made in the areas of Art, Literature, culture, history and civilization in general has been opened in the Patriarchate Meeting Hall in Addis Ababa. The exhibition was colourfully opened by His Holiness patriarch Abune Paulos and His Excellency Girma Wolde-giorgis, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

According to the Patriarch, the exhibition is a vivid demonstration of the multi-directional achievements scored by our industrious mothers and fathers in the last two millennia. This is a motivation for us to follow their examples and work hard to leave something concrete to the future generation, Abune Paulos has added. The exhibition is as to him a motivation to work hand-in-hand towards seeing the Ethiopia which has once and for all left poverty to history.

His Excellency Ato Girma has on his part said that the Ethiopian Orthodox church deserves Praise because it has achieved a lot in times when technology was in its rudiments. The heritages which the church has contributed and preserved to us are wonders of the world, Girma underscored. In addition to coming up with our own inventions, we have to preserve our rock-hewn churches, icons and other heritages which the world will admire for ever.

This exhibition which was opened on 15 September 2007 will stay open for three months.
In a related development, Mahbere Kidusan has held a very colourful exhibition in Kenya, Nairobi. This exhibition which stayed open from Sept.6-9,2007 was held in Kenyata International conference center (KICC). Disasa Diribsa, Ethiopias Ambassador to Kenya, and Melake Mihret Wolde-Yohannes, a Komos of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Kenya, have opened the exhibition.

Two parts, namely, church history and Marks of the Ethiopian Orthodox church were the foci of the exhibition and over 4500 visitors have watched it of whom more than half are Africans and western tourists.

Two kids, aged 15 and 12, who were born and brought up in Nairobi have participated in giving explanations to visitors.

Some of the African visitors of the exhibition have affirmed their zeal to be in the bosom of the Ethiopian church. "The Ethiopian church is responsible for our spiritual crisis; since it has failed to teach and save us from wolves, our blood is in you the messengers, " they have angrily commented.

The exhibition was widely covered by the print and electronic media in Kenya and by the DW Radio in Amharic.

Ato Hailu Girmay, a faithful of the church, has made an outlay of 147,000 Kenyan shiling to cover the expense. The exhibition was opened and concluded by prayer. In addition, Mahbere Kidusan's choir in Nairobi have presented their mesmerizing hymns to make the exhibition more colourful.

Baptist Representatives say they have been happy

to see Brothers and Sisters they yearned much

Delegates of the Abisinian Baptist church have said that they have been very happy to meet their brothers and sisters of the Ethiopian Orthodox church.

In a welcoming ceremony held on September 24, 2007 at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Dr. Calvin, the head of the 165-men delegation has declared that Ethiopia is undoubtedly their home.

As the head indicated, the Abisinian Baptist church was founded two centuries ago by Ethiopian merchants along with fellow blacks who refused to remain in the premises of a racist church that undermined blacks.

Having expressed the delegation's extreme happiness to be in Ethiopia at the dawn of the third millenium of the country, Dr. Calvin has affirmed the church's readiness to work with Ethiopians. It is such a combined effort which will help us see a better Africa, the head underscored. Dr. Calvin has, on behalf of his delegation, thanked Ethiopians for the warm reception.

The delegation's head has extolled Ethiopia's success in remaining independent in spite of the many challenges posed against it as a country.

In the ceremony held in the Trinity cathedral, Dr. Calvin has extended as a gift to Abune Paulos a Photograph showing Haile Sellassie offering a cross to the Baptist church in the 1950's.

The delegation has been to Bahrdar, Gondar, Lalibella and Axum to visit ancient monasteries and other historical sites.

Abune Paulos the Patriarch has on the occassion requested the members of the delegation to bear witness to the world of the glorious Ethiopia they have watched. The members have promised to do this as much as possible.

Praise be to God. Amen