Christianity in Ethiopia
Christianity in Ethiopia has ancient roots, going back to King Ezana of Ethiopia, and before that, to the Apostolic preaching.
In the Bible, it is written of Ethiopia, "Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God" (Psa 68:31). In the New Testament, we read that St. Philip batized a eunuch of Ethiopia, "27And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him." (Acts 8:27-30)
Today, Christians in Ethiopia represent about 60% of the total population, being around 50 million in all. [1] A lot of Christians in Ethiopia are members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.