Pope's Visit to Ethiopia - a Testament to the Growing Ethio-Egypt Ties

Relations between Ethiopia and Egypt can be traced back thousands of years and further attached to a natural phenomenon, the Abay River, commonly known as Blue Nile outside of Ethiopia. T

he river is a decisive factor in relations between Ethiopia and Egypt. similarly, both religions of Christianity and Islam have also played significant role in their relations. It is to be recalled that Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido church and Coptic church of Egypt was under one umbrella until 1959.

Ethiopian Muslims are also closely associated to Al-Azhar in Cairo, where they have their own column to study under, named Al-Jabarta Column, under which numerous scholars studied.

The longstanding relations between Ethiopia and Egypt are growing by leaps and bounds in recent years. The recent government officials, public diplomacy and religious leader exchange of visits between the two countries help the two countries to further cementing relations.

To mention some but few, the late Abune Paulos, Patriarch Ethiopian Orthodox, visited the Coptic church in 2003/4, by the invitation of late Pop Shenouda III extended to him. The Coptic church also paid visit to Ethiopia by the year 2007/8. It resulted in signing cooperation protocol agreement. The exchange of visits between the two church leaders are believed to consolidate strong relations beyond religious issues.

Few weeks ago, Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, visited Ethiopia. The visit of Pope Tawadros is timely and historic as the two countries are expressing their willingness to strengthen bilateral ties in many areas. To this end, creating greater understanding and trust has paramount importance.

According to Abune Mathias, the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Archbishop of Axum and Echegue of the See of St. Tekle-Haimanot, the visit of His Holiness and his delegation would deepen and lift Ethiopia and Egypt's longstanding historic, cultural and religious ties to a higher level.

As Abune Mathias underlined, the longstanding relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt is tied with the Nile River. This would remain the case, he said. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam would have no significant impact on Egypt or on Ethiopia's relationship with Egypt. On his part, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II said nothing can spoil the strong relations between Ethiopia and Egypt.

The Pope said that as the two nations drink their water from the same source, they should strive for their mutual benefit; he expressed his hope for a bright future for both nations."For the happiness of both Egyptian and Ethiopian people, we can contribute things for the benefit of the two countries. We always encouraged working together. Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church supports Ethiopia's endeavour to defeat poverty and bring about development," he said.

The growing relations particularly between the two churches should be further solidified. They need to work more in areas of peace building, fighting terrorism and extremism. All stakeholders ought to support them and extended their unreserved effort to come up with lasting solution to man-made and natural disasters that would threaten the lives of humanity.

Source: AllAfrica