The Falashas: The Forgotten Jews of Ethiopia, by David Kessler
Today's date is: 5/12/2025
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| 76 the Jews and Christians mentioned by Elia, it is clear that the early church showed little sympathy for the religion from which it sprang although, in spite of profound differences, it yet had much in common. St Athanasius of Alexandria, the patron of Frumentius, the missionary who had converted King Ezana, set an example of intolerance by declaring that 'the Jews were no longer the people of God, but rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah .... What is left unfulfilled(1), he asked, 'that they should now be allowed to disbelieve with impunity?" Other early church fathers went much further and their opinions could not but influence the young Ethiopian church. Marcel Simon has explained (2) how Christian anti-Semitism, which is theological not racist, expanded in the fourth century during the same period as the conversion of the Roman and Axumite empires. He quotes from the writings of St John Chrysostom to justify his contention that he was 'without question the master of anti-Jewish malediction'. This 'saint', who has the distinction of being called the golden-mouthed because of his eloquence as a preacher, was the first Christian leader to apply the word 'deicide' to the Jewish nation. (3) The following is one of his gems of invective contained in a sermon: ... the synagogue is a criminal assembly of Jews ... a place of meeting for the assassins of Christ ... a house worse than a drinking shop ... a den of thieves; a house of ill-fame, a dwelling of iniquity, the refuge of devils, a gulf and abyss of perdition ... whatever name even more horrible could be found will never be worse than the synagogue deserves. (4) Many other early church fathers, who had a profound influence on the development of Christian teaching, could be cited in a similar vein as, for instance, St Gregory of Nyssa, who composed this indictment of the Jews: Slayers of the Lord, murderers of the prophets, adversaries of God, haters of God, men who show contempt for the law, foes of grace, enemies of their father's faith, advocates of the devil, brood of vipers, slanderers, scoffers, men whose minds are in darkness, leaven of the Pharisees, assembly of demons, sinners, wicked men, stoners and haters of righteousness. (5) (1) Malcolm Hay, The Foot of Pride, p. 25. |