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== Early Life ==

== Early life ==

Frumentius was born at Tyre in the early 4th century, son of Syro-Phoenician Greek parents.  He later moved to Alexandria, Egypt.   

Frumentius was born at Tyre in the early 4th century, son of Syro-Phoenician Greek parents.  He later moved to Alexandria, Egypt.   

In 330 A.D., Frumentius and Aedesius were accompanying a relative, Meropius, to India.  Meropius was a Syrian philosopher and a merchant from Tyre.  The brothers had accompanied Meropius to India, and were returning to their home in Alexandria, Egypt by way of the Red Sea When they landed off the coast of Ethiopia, their ship was attacked by local inhabitants who were in the process of throwing off their allegiance to the Romans.  Everyone on board was killed except the two brothers, who were enslaved and given as a prize to King Abreha.   

In 330 A.D., Frumentius and Aedesius were accompanying a relative, Meropius, to India.  Meropius was a Syrian philosopher and a merchant from Tyre.  The brothers had accompanied Meropius to India, and were returning to their home in Alexandria, Egypt by way of the Red Sea When they landed off the coast of Ethiopia, their ship was attacked by local inhabitants who were in the process of throwing off their allegiance to the Romans.  Everyone on board was killed except the two brothers, who were enslaved and given as a prize to King Abreha.   

A hundred years before, Origen, a prominent figure in the brother’s home town, had written, “The Gospel has not yet been preached to all nations, since it has not reached the Chinese or the Ethiopians beyond the river”. <ref>Barrett, Cosmos, Chaos and Gospel, New Hope)</ref>  Frumentius and his brother must have known of Origen’s writing, so well-known was he in Alexandria.  They may have thought of Origen’s lament when they found themselves captive in one of the very lands of which Origen had written.  They had little influence, but they used the opportunities they had to teach the Gospel there.   

A hundred years before, Origen, a prominent figure in the brother’s home town, had written, “The Gospel has not yet been preached to all nations, since it has not reached the Chinese or the Ethiopians beyond the river”.<ref>Barrett, Cosmos, Chaos and Gospel, New Hope)</ref>  Frumentius and his brother must have known of Origen’s writing, so well-known was he in Alexandria.  They may have thought of Origen’s lament when they found themselves captive in one of the very lands of which Origen had written.  They had little influence, but they used the opportunities they had to teach the Gospel there.   

The queen mother liked their teaching.  Although she did not consider herself a Christian, she wanted her son to hear it.   

The queen mother liked their teaching.  Although she did not consider herself a Christian, she wanted her son to hear it.   

== Commemorations Today ==

== Commemorations Today ==

Today the Coptic Orthodox church recognizes the feast of St. Frumentius on Dec. 18.  The Eastern Orthodox church celebrates it on Nov. 30, the Roman Catholic on Oct. 27, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church on August 1. <ref>Festivals of Commemoration: Handbook to the Calendar in Lutheran Book of Worship, Augsburg, 1989</ref>

Today the Coptic Orthodox church recognizes the feast of St. Frumentius on Dec. 18.  The Eastern Orthodox church celebrates it on Nov. 30, the Roman Catholic on Oct. 27, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church on August 1.<ref>Festivals of Commemoration: Handbook to the Calendar in Lutheran Book of Worship, Augsburg, 1989</ref>

==References==

==References==