One God in three co-equal persons; Nicene faith confessed in Ge'ez
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church fully affirms the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as defined at the Councils of Nicaea I (325) and Constantinople I (381). God is one divine being in three co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial persons: Father (Abba), Son (Weld), and Holy Spirit (Menfes Qidus). This is professed at every celebration of the Divine Liturgy (Qeddase) in the ancient Ge'ez language.
The Ethiopian church accepted Nicene Trinitarian orthodoxy from the time of its formal evangelization in the 4th century through St. Frumentius, who was consecrated by St. Athanasius of Alexandria—the great defender of Nicene faith. This Alexandrian theological lineage has shaped Ethiopian Trinitarian theology. The Filioque addition to the Creed is not used in the Ethiopian tradition. The Holy Trinity is the center of Ethiopian liturgical life, with bowing (prostrations) at the Gloria Patri and rich hymnography addressed to the three persons.
Key Distinctions
- Persons ontology:
- three coequal persons, one divine substance (homoousios)
- Spirit procession:
- from Father alone (no filioque)
- Creed stance:
- Nicene Creed; distinct Ge'ez theological tradition; Tewahedo doctrine
Scripture References
Sources
- Council of Nicaea I (325)
- Council of Constantinople I (381)
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Constitution (2003)
- St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Defense of the Nicene Definition