History
The Jesuits And Their Offensive Mission
After the death of Ahmed Gran there was a gradual deterioration of harmony between the two types of Christians, Ethiopians and Catholics. The reason was that Bermudez insisted that Emperor Galawedos should submit himself to the Roman Pontiff. Bermudez himself wrote an account of an occasion when he tried to get the Emperor to submit to the Pope.
On this occasion he arrived at the king’s tent and found him with his mother, Bermudez was received with much honour. He then addressed the Emperor: “ Much beloved son in Jesus Christ, you are aware of the fact that the most Christian King, your father now in glory, asked me to go to Rome, for himself and for myself to give submission to the High Pontiff; you may see here a letter signed by him which he gave me, that the high Pontiff might believe that your father recognized him as the successor of St.Peter of the Apostles of Christ – and that he considered himself subordinate to him with all his Kingdoms and lordships as were all the faithful and orthodox Christian Kings. Therefore conforming yourself with the will of God, you should submit yourself to the Holy Father, the Roman Pontiff.”
He further stated that if the emperor submitted he would be obeying God’s orders. He would then have in necessity for friend’s brothers and helpers, the kings of Portugal and all other Christian Kings. Galawedos refused to withdraw his link with Alexandria; he stated that Bermudez was not his spiritual father, nor a prelate but patriarch of the Franks and the Portuguese. Galawedos further warned Bermudez not to call himself his spiritual father in the future “… And that he would not obey the Holy Father of Rome”.
Bermudez said, “ I held him to be excommunicated, and accursed. He (Galawedos) replied that I was excommunicated not him.” A few days later a conflict arose between the Portuguese and Ethiopians, first the Portuguese attacked the Ethiopian camp then set primitive bombs using gunpowder at the three entrances to their camp. Several Ethiopians were burned and killed when they counter-attacked and some were scalded and roasted. The Emperor was so grief stricken at this he tore his rich garments he wore. Notwithstanding as a new Patriarch Abuna Joseph was on his way to Ethiopia from Egypt the Emperor avoided conflict and gave Bermudez and his people land in the Province of Doara. Even though they were given everything they argued with the local people about submission to Rome and fought with the people of Doara.
They killed the governor of the province Calide and many poor Ethiopians and forced many of the rest to submit to Rome and the catholic faith. As a result Bermudez was imprisoned and deported to Goa.
After his failure Pope Julius III and the King of Portugal sent another Patriarch and two bishops. John Nuguez Barretti was the Patriarch also Melchior Carneyro and Andrew Oviedo as bishops. Along with them came an Ambassador and ten Jesuits, only Oviedo reached Ethiopia the rest stayed at Goa and one died there (Barretti). Oviedo and the Jesuits prepared “ a treatise on the Ethiopian errors and the infallibility of our holy faith”, they further issued a circular letter in which they advised Catholics and the Portuguese to have nothing to do with such “Schimatricks”; the letter also condemned Ethiopians as refractory and Obstinate against the Church. It urged Ethiopians to forsake their religion and rebel against their king.
Galawedos replied in a spiritually inspired document entitled confession of faith, which was accompanied by a final declaration “ never to submit to the See of Rome”. The Document stated: "In the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, this is my Faith and the Faith of my fathers the Kings, and the Faith of my flock, which is in the fold of my kingdom. “…We believe in one God and in his only son Eyesus Kristos, who is his word and power.” And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Vivifying Lord, who proceedeth from the Father. Thus do I proclaim and thus do I teach, I Galawedos, King of Ethiopia, in the name of my Kingdom, Atnaf Sagad the son of Wanag- Saged, the son of Noad.”(Yesehaq, 52)
Abba!
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