ABYSSINIAN CHURCH. The Church
founded by Frumentius, the first bishop of
Ethiopia, about 330 About 470 a great
company of monks established itself in the
country, completely changing the doctrines and
affairs of the Church, but was a few years later
expelled. From 1528 to 1540, the country was
overrun by Mohammedans, followed at the end
of the 15th century by Portuguese Jesuit
missions, which remained till 1633, when the
Abyssinians resumed allegiance to the Church
of Alexandria. The metropolitan (called
Abuna) or head of the Church is appointed by
the patriarch of Alexandria, and is always a
foreigner. The Abyssinians are monophysites, generally agreeing with the Copts in ritual and practice. The fasts are long and rigid; confession and absolution are strictly enforced and the Sabbath and the Levirate law are generally observed. Graven images, purgatory, extreme unction, crucifixes, etc., are prohibited. The priests must marry, but only once. The liturgy is celebrated on the ark in the King's palace at Christmas, Epiphany, Easter and the Feast of the Cross. The Scriptures are read in Geez, the literary language, which is used for all services. Consult Dowling, ‘The Abyssinian Church’ (London 1909).