Ethiopian Background

Ethiopia is located in Eastern Africa, West of Somalia. The area is comparative slightly less than twice the size of Texas. Population is estimated 59,680,383. The people in Ethiopia are 35%-40% Orthodox and 45%-50% Muslim. Ethiopia is the only country in Africa that has never been colonized, and its people have a proud tradition of fighting for Independence. Ethiopia have a rich Orthodox Christian heritage, which Ethiopians maintained even when all its neighbors embraced Islam in the 7th Century. Ethiopia is a land of enormous ethnic diversity, with people of Semitic, Hamitic, Nilotic and Omotic stock. There are more than 80 ethnic groups and as many languages.

The Ethiopian Orthodox church has dominated relgious life in the country since the fourth century. The literature is traditionaly christian with earlies writings in Ge'ez being translations of Greek christian works. Ge'ez literary production really took off in the 13th century. Amahric, which is the common language now took over from Ge'ez around the 16th century.

The inside of the church

Links

Ethiolink.com

Cyberethiopia.com