Your Faith Journey with EWTN
As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
Fourth century–c. 383
Patron Saint of Ethiopia
St. Frumentius is remembered as the “Apostle of Ethiopia,” the missionary who helped establish Christianity in the ancient kingdom of Axum during the fourth century.
Frumentius was born in Tyre, in present-day Lebanon. According to the account preserved by Rufinus of Aquileia, he traveled with his uncle and his brother, Edesius, toward India. While returning by ship, they stopped at a port on the Red Sea, where the travelers were attacked and killed. The pirates spared the two boys because of their youth and took them to the royal court at Axum.
As young men, they became trusted members of the royal household. Frumentius served as an administrator, and his position gave him opportunities to encourage Christian merchants and others to practice their faith openly. He also helped establish places where Christians could worship.
After the king’s death, the brothers were set free and granted permission to return home. Edesius returned to Tyre, but Frumentius traveled to Alexandria. He appealed to St. Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, to send a bishop to care for the growing Christian community in Ethiopia. Recognizing Frumentius’s unique knowledge and missionary experience, Athanasius consecrated him bishop.
When Frumentius returned to Axum, he devoted himself to evangelization. He preached the Gospel, established churches, and baptized members of the royal family. His ministry helped Christianity take root and later spread throughout the kingdom.
The Ethiopian faithful affectionately called him “Abuna,” meaning “our father.” Frumentius served as the bishop of the Ethiopian Church until his death around 383 A.D. His missionary work laid the foundation for the Ethiopian Christian tradition, which has continued for more than 1,600 years.
Unlike his brother Frumentius, Edesius never returned to Ethiopia (Axum) after leaving. He left the royal court and traveled back to Phoenicia, modern-day Lebanon. Upon his return to his native city of Tyre, he entered the clergy and was ordained a priest. Edesius later shared the remarkable tale of their youth in East Africa with early Church historian Tyrannius Rufinus of Aquileia. His account became the primary firsthand source for the story of their shipwreck, enslavement, and the origins of the Ethiopian church. These records helped preserve the foundational history of early Axumite Christianity, as recorded in the historian Rufinus’s work titled Ecclesiastical History.
When Frumentius arrived in Alexandria to ask the patriarch to send a Christian pastor and missionary priests to the growing church in Axum, St. Athanasius of Alexandria called a synod and consulted with his fellow bishops to evaluate the situation. They recognized Frumentius’s deep zeal, intimate knowledge of the region, and character. Moreover, he was already uniquely trusted by the Ethiopians and possessed unmatched firsthand experience that a new bishop would not possess. The bishops determined that the best solution was to allow Frumentius to complete the evangelical work he had already begun. Judging that no one was better suited for the task, the synod bishops gave their unanimous consent for Athanasius to ordain Frumentius a bishop and send him back to establish the formal see at Axum.
According to the traditional account, Frumentius’s position at the royal court allowed him to influence the future of Christianity in Axum. After the death of the king, Frumentius remained at the request of the queen regent to help care for her young son, the future King Ezana. During this time, he continued to encourage Christians and to establish places of worship. When Ezana became king, he embraced Christianity, and the Faith gained significant support throughout the kingdom. The conversion of the royal household helped Christianity move beyond a small community of merchants and foreigners and become established throughout Axum. Fourth-century sources also confirm that St. Frumentius was serving as bishop of Axum during the reign of Ezana and his brother Saizanas.
Get the free eBook, Sharing in Our Lord’s Passion: Stories of St. Francis of Assisi and Others Who Bore the Stigmata.
St. Francis of Assisi is the first recorded stigmatist in Church history. Since then, many holy men and women have experienced this mystical gift. In this free eBook, you’ll discover the stories of Sts. Francis, Catherine, Rita, and Pio of Pietrelcina, along with Servant of God Rhoda Wise. You’ll also learn more about the stigmata in a special Q&A with “Miracle Hunter” Michael O’Neill, host of several EWTN programs.
Sign up below to receive your copy. We hope the witness of these holy men and women inspires you to seek a deeper relationship with Jesus, especially as you reflect on His Passion.
Be inspired to follow in the footsteps of the saints. Subscribe to receive the Daily Saint, featuring a brief biography delivered to your inbox each day.
Start now and let the intercession and witness of the saints draw you closer to God.
As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
STEP 1
We’re here to serve you. Let us help you complete your gift with confidence.
Send a message to Mission Advancement.
Guidance for DAFs, stock, IRA, and more.
Manage your gifts and preferences.
