Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online

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Ezana
(1,373 words)

Ezana is considered the first Christian king of the Ethiopian reign of Aksum; he reigned, according to the more accepted theory, in the mid-4th century CE. Various inscriptions show the conversion of the king to the Christian faith. Ezana was baptized (Baptism) by Frumentius, who originally came from Tyrus but was captured in Aksum together with his brother Edesius and became, in a first moment, a servant of Ezana’s father, then Frumentius was chosen as educator for Ezana and ordered bishop of Aksum by Athanasius of Alexandria around 347 C…

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Caruso, Matteo, “Ezana”, in: Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online, General Editor David G. Hunter, Paul J.J. van Geest, Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte. Consulted online on 22 September 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2589-7993_EECO_SIM_00001229>
First published online: 2018



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