Saint Frumence
Un des apôtres de l'Ethiopie au IVe siècle (+ v. 360)
Un des apôtres de l'Ethiopie où il est nommé: abba Salama.
Il était originaire de l'Inde, et, avec un de ses amis, "explorateur philosophe" selon ce que nous en savons par l'historien Rufin (Patrologie latin. 21) il pénétra en Haute Ethiopie. A leur retour faisant escale à Massouah, sur la côte égyptienne, ils furent emmenés comme esclaves du roi à Aksoum la capitale. Sa conduite lui permit quelque liberté ce dont il profita pour annoncer l'Evangile. Libéré par la régente Amida, il fut ordonné prêtre puis, à la demande de la communauté chrétienne, il fut sacré évêque par saint Athanase d'Alexandrie. Il retourna en Abyssinie et les fidèles l'appelèrent "le révélateur de la lumière".
- à voir: en Éthiopie, sur les traces des premiers chrétiens (2011, 52 mn, Arte France)
Originaire de Tyr, en Phénicie, il fut enlevé par des pirates avec son frère
Edessios. Frumence se fit remarquer à la cour royale d'Abyssinie et devint même
économe du palais. Il se rendit près de saint Athanase, patriarche d'Alexandrie
qui l'ordonna évêque et c'est ainsi qu'il devint le premier évêque du royaume
d'Axoum.
(fêté également le 30 novembre)
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/8725/Saint-Frumence.html
Saint Frumence
Évêque
(IVe siècle)
Saint Frumence était
encore enfant, lorsque le philosophe romain Mérope, son oncle, l'emmena, lui et
son frère Édèse, dans un voyage qu'il fit en Éthiopie. Son voyage achevé, il
s'embarqua pour revenir dans sa patrie. Le navire qui le portait avec ses neveux
s'arrêta dans un certain port pour y faire les provisions nécessaires à
l'équipage. Les barbares du pays pillèrent le navire, et passèrent au fil de
l'épée tous ceux qui le montaient.
Frumence était alors
assis sur le rivage, sous un arbre, avec son frère, et préparait sa leçon. Les
barbares eurent pitié de leur innocence, de leur candeur et de leur beauté et
les conduisirent à leur roi. Le prince éthiopien s'intéressa à leur sort et
prit un soin particulier de leur éducation; il fit Édèse son échanson, et
Frumence son trésorier et son secrétaire d'État. Étant près de mourir, il leur
donna la liberté; mais la reine les pria de rester et de continuer à l'aider de
leurs conseils jusqu'à ce que l'héritier du trône fût en âge de régner.
Frumence profita de son
autorité pour disposer ce peuple à recevoir la connaissance de l'Évangile, et
fit bâtir une église pour les réunions des nouveaux chrétiens. Quand le prince
eut atteint sa majorité, Frumence résigna entre ses mains l'administration du
royaume et demanda la permission de retourner dans sa patrie.
Arrivé à Alexandrie, il
alla trouver saint Athanase, lui raconta son histoire, lui parla de la
chrétienté naissante de l'Éthiopie, des bonnes dispositions de ses habitants,
et le supplia d'envoyer un évêque et des prêtres pour travailler à la
conversion du peuple entier. Athanase, plein de joie et d'admiration, lui dit:
"Qui mieux que vous peut accomplir cette oeuvre?" Il l'éleva
promptement au sacerdoce et à l'épiscopat et l'envoya prêcher l'Évangile.
L'évêque fut accueilli
avec bonté par le prince, qui se convertit et aida lui-même à éclairer la
nation entière. Frumence fit bâtir de nombreuses églises. Ses miracles ne
contribuèrent pas peu au succès de sa mission. Il eut à souffrir des menées des
hérétiques ariens, qui cherchèrent à nuire à son apostolat; mais il demeura
toujours invincible champion de la foi de Nicée et eut l'honneur d'être appelé
par le grand Athanase: Père du salut. Le saint évêque continua d'édifier
l'Église d'Éthiopie par ses discours, ses vertus et ses miracles, jusqu'à sa
mort, à l'âge d'environ cent ans.
Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950
SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_frumence.html
Saint Frumence de Tyr,
l'apôtre de l'Éthiopie
Saint Frumence est né à
Tyr vers l'an 315. On ne connait pas ses parents, ni l'histoire de son enfance,
mais les historiens estiment que vers l'année 330, sous le règne de l’empereur
romain Constantin, un certain Meropius ou Mérope, philosophe, médecin de
profession et fervent chrétien, partit de Tyr pour faire un voyage
d'exploration et d'évangélisation sur les côtes du sud de la mer Rouge vers
l'Inde. Il amène avec lui ses deux élèves préférés, Edèse et Frumence.
Un jour, sur le chemin du
retour, leur navire aborda dans un port éthiopien, très probablement Adoulis,
aujourd'hui en Érythrée. L'Ethiopie était beaucoup plus étendu qu'il ne l'est
de nos jours, il s'étendait sur les deux rives de la mer Rouge, allant jusqu'aux
confins de l'Egypte; à l'Ouest et au Sud, il était limité par le Soudan et
l'océan Indien. Mérope et tout l'équipage furent massacrés, probablement pour
voler la cargaison, par les indigènes. La piraterie fait partie
jusqu'aujourd'hui de cette partie de l'Afrique. En plus la paix ne régnait pas
à cette époque entre les Romains et les Aksoumites. Frumence et son frère
échappèrent heureusement au massacre, peut-être à cause de leur jeunesse.
Conduits à la cour pour être vendus comme esclaves, ils plurent au roi qui les
attacha à son service. Le plus jeune, Edèse (connu en Ethiopie sous le nom de
Sydracos), reçut la charge d'échanson royal; à Frumence, le monarque confia la
surveillance des archives, la direction du palais et le trésor; il reçut le nom
de Feriemenaios. Les deux jeunes esclaves s'acquittèrent de leur mieux de ces
fonctions si délicates. Afin de récompenser leurs loyaux services, le souverain
d'Aksoum rendit la liberté aux deux frères peu de temps avant sa mort.
Après le décés du roi,
les jeunes gens voulurent alors rentrer à Tyr mais la reine¬mère, dont le fils,
Tzahem, était trop jeune pour régner, leur demanda de demeurer avec elle pour
l'aider dans l'éducation de son enfant et le gouvernement du royaume. Ils y
consentirent. Frumence occupa à la cour une situation très importante et acquit
sur l'impératrice et le jeune prince une influence considérable. Il profita de
cet état de choses pour assurer le libre exercice de la religion chrétienne aux
négociants byzantins ou romains qui fréquentaient les principaux marchés
d'Ethiopie. Il les engagea à se fixer des lieux de réunion, à se construire des
oratoires où ils prieraient Dieu en commun. Plus tard, il fit bâtir une église.
Où fut-elle élevée? On peut supposer que c'était dans un port du royaume,
puisqu'elle était surtout destinée aux chrétiens venus de l'étranger et que
leurs affaires appelaient en Ethiopie. Or, à Massaouah, il y a un édifice,
aujourd'hui converti en mosquée, qui passe pour avoir été bâti par Frumence.
Lorsque Massaouah était encore chrétienne, cet édifice était une église dédiée
à la Sainte Vierge et jouissait d'un droit d'asile qui a été respecté depuis
par les conquérants musulmans, même à l'égard des chrétiens et des idolâtres.
Lorsque le jeune prince
eut atteint l'âge requis pour régner, les deux tuteurs lui remirent les rênes
du pouvoir et obtinrent de lui l'autorisation de gagner I'Egypte. C'était aux
environs de l'année 345. Arrivés en Égypte, les deux frères se séparèrent.
Edèse s'en revint seul à Tyr. A son arrivée, il décrivit avec enthousiasme, et
émotion, leurs années d'exil et le merveilleux projet de son inséparable
compagnon et il reçut la prêtrise. Puis la vie reprit pour lui son cours
normal, et l'Éthiopie ne fut plus qu'un souvenir très cher, souvent présent à
son esprit.
Mais Frumence, par une
inspiration particulière de la Providence, alla à Alexandrie trouver saint
Athanase qui avait été récemment rétabli sur le siège patriarcal. Il lui
raconta les péripéties de son séjour dans le royaume d'Aksoum, la bienveillance
des princes envers les chrétiens, les progrès que la foi avait déjà faits dans
ce pays. Enfin, il supplia le patriarche d'envoyer un évêque et des prêtres
pour travailler à l'évangélisation.
- Frumence, cet évêque
que vous me demandez, je l'ai là sous la main, et personne au monde n'est plus
qualifié que lui pour christianiser ce pays, et baptiser sa reine. Lui dit
Saint Athanase.
Et devant son regard
interrogateur, il poursuivit: - C'est vous, et vous seul, qui ferez de
l'Éthiopie ce bastion avancé du christianisme en Afrique.
-Mais, si j'aime cette
patrie de toutes mes forces, je ne suis qu'un simple fidèle de l'Eglise,
incapable de tenir ce rôle écrasant.
- Qu'à cela ne tienne, il
vous sera plus aisé de devenir évêque, qu'à moi de trouver un prélat aussi
capable que vous de mener à bien cette tâche. Vous avez ma confiance, et Dieu
vous viendra en aide.
Frumence ne pensait plus
qu'à son prochain voyage, et à la mission qui l'attendait. Il étudia avec zèle,
devint un théologien accompli, fut ordonné prêtre et reçut enfin sa mitre
d'Evêque. Son rêve était devenu réalité, et sa promesse à la reine Sophie, son
unique raison de vivre.
La famille royale
accueillit son retour avec une joie difficile à décrire. Il instruisit, en même
temps que la Reine et son fils, toute la cour; et bientôt tout le pays, suivant
l'exemple royal, demanda à entendre la parole du Christ, et à recevoir le
baptême.
La croix régnait sur
l'Éthiopie, et devait y rester plantée au-delà de sa mort. Le grand apôtre de
I'Ethiopie mourut vers 380 probablement à Aksoum. Il était âgé de soixante-dix
ans environ. Un sanctuaire fut érigé en son honneur à quelques lieues d'Aksoum,
à Maï Gouagoua : d'où le nom de Frérnona donné à la localité. Au XVIIe siècle,
les Pères Jésuites y avaient une de leurs missions. Aujourd'hui, le pays est
devenu domaine et résidence de l'évêque, chef de l'Eglise éthiopienne.
Mais combien d'Ethiopiens savent que cette Croix qu'ils vénèrent, et fêtent chaque année en grande pompe, dans un grand élan de ferveur et d'amour, ce symbole du Christ qui les unit tous, et qu'ils nomment « maskal », c'est à Frumence de Tyr, esclave et évêque, qu'ils la doivent.
SOURCE : http://orient.chretien.free.fr/FrumenceTyr.htm
Saint Frumence
Saint Frumence, Archévêque d'Inda (Ethiopie, anciennement Abysssinie), était natif de Tyr. Par divine Providence, étant encore enfant, il vint en Abyssinie. Grandissant près de la cour impériale, il devint un ami et un conseiller principal de l'empereur, et par la suite, le tuteur de son fils, qui héritera du trône étant encore mineur, après le décès de son père. Avec le consentement du nouvel empereur, Saint Frumence fit le voyage vers son pays natal puis visita Alexandrie et son patriarche, Saint Athanase. Avec la bénédiction de ce dernier, il fut sacré comme premier évêque d'Abyssinie, et il revint dans ce pays où il avait grandit depuis son enfance. A son retour, Saint Frumence commença à accomplir des miracles, amenant nombre de gens à l'Eglise. L'empereur lui dit, "Tu as vécu longtemps parmi nous, mais jamais nous ne t'avons vu accomplir de telles merveilles. Comment est-ce possible à présent?" Le saint répondit, "Je ne suis pas en cause, mais c'est la grâce de la prêtrise". Alors l'empereur et nombre de ses sujets reçurent le saint Baptême. Ayant accomplit la tâche apostolique de convertir la nation Abyssinienne au Christ, Saint Frumence guida de nombreuses années durant, avec zèle et fruit, l'Eglise qui lui était confiée par Dieu, puis partit en paix vers le Seigneur alors qu'il était fort âgé.
SOURCE : http://www.religion-orthodoxe.com/article-saint-frumence-iveme-siecle-93239958.html
Also
known as
Apostle to Ethiopia
Abuna of Ethiopia
Father of Ethiopia
Fremonat
Frementius
Fulgence
27
October (traditional Roman Catholic)
1
August (Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church)
30
November (Eastern Orthodox Churches)
18
December (Coptic Orthodox Church)
Profile
Brother of Saint Aedesius. Student of
the philosopher Meropius.
While on a voyage on the Red Sea, their ship wrecked on
the Ethiopian shore,
and only Frumentius and Aedeius survived. They were taken to the king at
Axum as a curiosity, and became members of
the court, Frumentius serving as secretary.
When the king died they
stayed as part of the queen‘s court.
She permitted them to introduce Christianity to
the country,
and open trade between Ethiopia and
the west. Frumentius convinced Saint Athanasius
of Alexandria to send missionaries from Alexandria, Egypt,
and was himself consecrated as bishop of Ethiopia. Converted many,
including the princes Ezana
and Sheazana, and established a firm foothold in Ethiopia for
the faith.
Born
early 4th
century, Tyre (modern Sur, Lebanon)
c.383 in Ethiopia of
natural causes
Additional
Information
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Ramsgate
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Butler
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Short
Lives of the Saints, by Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly
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MLA
Citation
“Saint Frumentius of
Ethiopia“. CatholicSaints.Info. 30 December 2023. Web. 29 October 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-frumentius-of-ethiopia/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-frumentius-of-ethiopia/
(Saint) Bishop (October
27) (4th century) A Christian youth of the fourth century who making a voyage
with his uncle, Meropeus of Tyre, was cast on the shore of Abyssinia. All on
board were massacred by the savage inhabitants with the exception of himself
and his brother. The King having taken a fancy to him, he was educated at the
Court, and in time became the Treasurer of the kingdom. On the death of the
monarch he was entrusted with the education of the Royal Princes, Aizan and
Sazan. Wishing for the conversion of the kingdom, Frumentius asked the
assistance of Saint Athanasius, who gave him Holy Orders and Episcopal
Consecration and sent him back to Abyssinia, which he converted to Christianity
with its King Aizan, thus meriting the title of Apostle of Ethiopia. The
precise year of his death is unknown.
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Frumentius”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info.
6 May 2013. Web. 29 October 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-frumentius/>
St. Frumentius
Called “Abuna” or “the
father” of Ethiopia, sent to that land by St. Athanasius. Frumentius was born
in Tyre, Lebanon.
According to a 4th
century historian, who cites St. Frumentius’ brother St. Aedesius as his
authority, while still children Frumentius and Aedesius accompanied their uncle
Metropius on a voyage to Ethiopia. When their ship stopped at one of the
harbors of the Red Sea, the locals massacred the whole crew, with the exception
of the two boys, who were taken as slaves to the King of Aksum.
At the royal court at
Aksum (Axum), they soon attained high positions. St. Aedesius was royal cup
bearer, and St. Frumentius was a secretary. They introduced Christianity to
that land. When Abreha and Asbeha inherited the Ethiopian throne from their
father, St. Frumentius went to Alexandria, Egypt, to ask St. Athanasius to send
a missionary to Ethiopia. He was consecrated a bishop and converted many more
upon his return to Aksum. Frumentius and St. Aedesius are considered the
apostles of Ethiopia.
SOURCE : http://www.ucatholic.com/saints/saint-frumentius/
St. Frumentius
Feastday: October 27
Patron: of Aksumite Empire
Death: 380
Called "Abuna"
or "the father' of Ethiopia, sent to that land by St. Athanasius.
Frumentius was born in Tyre, Lebanon. While on a voyage in the Red Sea with
St. Aedesius, possibly his brother, only Frumentius and Aedesius survived the
shipwreck. Taken to the Ethiopian royal court at Aksum, they soon attained high
positions. Aedesius was royal cup bearer, and Fruementius was a secretary. They
introduced Christianity to
that land. When Abreha and Asbeha inherited the Ethiopian throne from
their father, Frumentius went to Alexandria, Egypt, to ask St. Athanasius to
send a missionary to Ethiopia. He was consecrated a bishop and
converted many more upon his return to Aksum. Frumentius and Aedesius are
considered the apostles of
Ethiopia.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=648
St. Frumentius of
Ethiopia
Feastday: October 27
Patron: Aksumite Empire
Death: 383
Archbishop of Abyssinia, Ethiopia. 383 A.D. (Note: Frumentius, known as Abuna, DID NOT BECOME THE FIRST TO EVANGELIZE THEIOPIA/CUSH/NUBIA. That was done by the Ethiopian Eunuch (Chrysanthius Eunuchus) of the Kandake, Queen Candace. See Acts.)
Also Apostle Matthew was among the first to preach Christ in Ethiopia. Frumentius and his helpers reinforced Christianity, already laid by Our Lord and Our Lord’s apostle(s), some 350, plus years prior to Abuna Frumentius).
Although I was born in at Tyre (modern Sur, Lebanon), I am called an Apostle to Ethiopia; Abuna of Ethiopia; Father of Ethiopia. I studied under Meropius, the philosopher. Aedeius was my brother.
A Red Sea ship cruise resulted in the vessel wrecking on the Abyssinian/Ethiopic shoreline. My brother and myself survived. Soldiers captured us, delivering us to king of capital city of Aksum (which had formerly been ruled by Queens, called Kandake).
After a time. We were invited to join the court administration. I became a government minister, like a modern secretary.
When the king died, we joined the succeeding Queen's court. She allowed us to evangelize Christianity, which had been previously brought by Eunuch, St. Phillip, Matthew, and Nathaniel.
I petitioned another African Archbishop Athanasius
at Alexandria for
additional help. He consecrated me bishop at
Ethiopia. Through our efforts(with brother Aedesius) converts included princes Ezana and Sheazana.
I died in peacefully, around 380 A.D. (Western Liturgical Church), 27 Oct. and
30 Nov.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=6286
New
Catholic Dictionary – Saint Frumentius
Article
Confessor, Bishop of
Axum, and apostle of Abyssinia,
born Tyre, Pheonicia, died c.383.
With his brother Edesius, he accompanied his uncle Metropius to Abyssinia.
On the journey they were overtaken by pirates, and all were killed except the
two brothers, who were taken as slaves to the court of the King of Axum. They
gained the favor of the king and propagated Christianity throughout
the kingdom. Frumentius journeyed to Alexandria,
where he was consecrated bishop by
Saint Athanasius, c.328.
He returned to Abyssinia,
established his see at Axum, and was called Abuna (Our Father) or Abba Salama
(Father of Peace). Feast, 27
October.
MLA
Citation
“Saint Frumentius”. New Catholic Dictionary. CatholicSaints.Info.
2 February 2013. Web. 29 October 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/new-catholic-dictionary-saint-frumentius/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/new-catholic-dictionary-saint-frumentius/
Edesius and Frumentius
Tyrian Greeks of the fourth century, probably brothers, who introduced Christianity into Abyssinia; the latter a saint and first Bishop of Axum, styled the Apostle of Abyssinia, d. about 383. When still mere boys they accompanied their uncle Metropius on a voyage to Abyssinia. When their ship stopped at one of the harbours of the Red Sea, people of the neighbourhood massacred the whole crew, with the exception of Edesius and Frumentius, who were taken as slaves to the King of Axum. This occurred about 316. The two boys soon gained the favour of the king, who raised them to positions of trust and shortly before his death gave them their liberty. The widowed queen, however, prevailed upon them to remain at the court and assist her in the education of the young prince Erazanes and in the administration of the kingdom during the prince's minority. They remained and (especially Frumentius) used their influence to spread Christianity. First they encouraged the Christian merchants, who were temporarily in the country, to practise their faith openly by meeting at places of public worship; later they also converted some of the natives. When the prince came of age Edesius returned to his friends and relatives at Tyre and was ordained priest, but did not return to Abyssinia. Frumentius, on the other hand, who was eager for the conversion of Abyssinia, accompanied Edesius as far as Alexandria, where he requested St. Athanasius to send a bishop and some priests to Abyssinia. St. Athanasius considered Frumentius himself the most suitable person for bishop and consecrated him in 328, according to others between 340-46. Frumentius returned to Abyssinia, erected his episcopal see at Axum, baptized King Aeizanas, who had meanwhile succeeded to the throne, built many churches, and spread the Christian Faith throughout Abyssinia. The people called him Abuna (Our Father) or Abba Salama (Father of Peace), titles still given to the head of the Abyssinian Church. In 365 Emperor Constantius addressed a letter to King Aeizanas and his brother Saizanas in which he vainly requested them to substitute the Arian bishop Theophilus for Frumentius (Athanasius, "Apol. ad Constantium" in P.G., XXV, 631). The Latins celebrate the feast of Frumentius on 27 October, the Greeks on 30 November, and the Copts on 18 December. Abyssinian tradition credits him with the first Ethiopian translation of the New Testament.
Sources
RUFINUS, Historia Ecclesiastica, lib. I, cap. ix, in P.L., XXI,
478-80; Acta SS. Oct., XII, 257-70; DUCHESNE, Les missions
chrétiennes au Sud de l'Empire romain in Mélanges d'archéologie et
d'histoire (Rome, 1896), XVI, 79-122; THEBAUD, The Church and the
Gentile World (New York, 1878), I, 231-40; BUTLER, Lives of the
Saints, 27 Oct.; BARING-GOULD, Lives of the Saints (London,
1872), 27 Oct.
Ott, Michael. "Edesius
and Frumentius." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New
York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 28 Oct. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05281b.htm>.
Transcription. This
article was transcribed for New Advent by WGKofron. With thanks to St.
Mary's Church, Akron, Ohio.
Ecclesiastical
approbation. Nihil Obstat. May 1, 1909. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John
M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Copyright © 2023 by Kevin Knight.
Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05281b.htm
St. Frumentius, Apostle of
Ethiopia, Bishop and Confessor
See Rufinus, Hist. l. 1,
c. 19. Theodoret, l. 1, c. 22. St. Athan. Apol. 1, p. 696. Socrates, l. 1, c.
19. Sozomen, l. 2, c. 24. Hermant, Vie de S. Athanase, t. 2, p. 240. Tillemont,
t. 7, p. 284; t. 8, p. 13. Montfaucon, Vit. S. Athan. p. 15, t. 1, Op. S.
Athan. Job Ludolf, (who died at Francfort, in 1704, and is famous for his
travels and skill in the Ethiopian and other Oriental languages) Hist. Æthiop.
l. 3, c. 7, n. 17, et Comment. in eandem Hist. p. 280. Le Quien, Or. Chr. t. 2,
p. 643.
Fourth Age.
A CERTAIN philosopher
named Metrodorus, out of curiosity and a desire of seeing the world, and
improving his stock of knowledge, made several voyages, and travelled both into
Persia, and into Farther India, which name the ancients gave to Ethiopia. 1 At
his return he presented Constantine the Great, who had then lately made himself
master of the East, with a quantity of diamonds and other precious stones and
curiosities, assuring that prince his collection would have been much more
valuable, had not Sapor, king of Persia, seized on the best part of his
treasure. His success encouraged Meropius, a philosopher of Tyre, to undertake
a like voyage upon the same motive. But God, who conducts all the steps of men,
even when they least think of him, raised in him this design for an end of
infinitely greater importance and value than all the diamonds which the
philosopher could bring back. Meropius carried with him two of his nephews,
Frumentius and Edesius, with whose education he was intrusted. In the course of
their voyage homewards the vessel touched at a certain port to take in
provisions and fresh water. The barbarians of that country, who were then at
war with the Romans, stopped the ship, and put the whole crew and all the
passengers to the sword, except the two children, who were studying their
lessons under a tree at some distance. When they were found, their innocence,
tender age, and beauty, pleaded strongly in their favour, and moved the
barbarians to compassion; and they were carried to the king, who resided at
Axuma, formerly one of the greatest cities in the East, now a poor village in
Abyssinia, called Accum, filled with ruins of stately edifices, and sumptuous
obelisks which seem to have been funeral monuments of the dead, though none of
the inscriptions are now intelligible. 2 The
prince was charmed with the wit and sprightliness of the two boys, took special
care of their education; and, not long after, made Edesius his cup-bearer, and
Frumentius, who was the elder, his treasurer and secretary of state, intrusting
him with all the public writings and accounts. They lived in great honour with
this prince, who, on his death-bed, thanked them for their services, and, in
recompence, gave them their liberty. After his demise, the queen, who was left
regent for her eldest son, entreated them to remain at court, and assist her in
the government of the state, wherein she found their fidelity, abilities, and
integrity her greatest support and comfort. Frumentius had the principal
management of affairs, and desiring to promote the faith of Christ in that
kingdom, engaged several Christian merchants, who traded there, to settle in
the country, and procured them great privileges, and all the conveniences for
their religious worship, and by his own fervour and example strongly
recommended the true religion to the infidels. When the young king, whose name
was Aizan, came of age, and took the reins of government into his own hands,
the brothers resigned their posts, and though he invited them to stay, Edesius
went back to Tyre, where he was afterwards ordained priest. But Frumentius
having nothing so much at heart as the conversion of the whole nation, took the
route of Alexandria, and entreated the holy archbishop, St. Athanasius, to send
some pastor to that country, ripe for a conversion to the faith. St. Athanasius
called a synod of bishops, and by their unanimous advice ordained Frumentius
himself bishop of the Ethiopians, judging no one more proper than himself to
finish the work which he had begun. 3 Frumentius,
vested with this sacred character, went back to Axuma, and gained great numbers
to the faith by his discourses and miracles: for seldom did any nation embrace
Christianity with greater ardour, or defend it with greater courage. King Aizan
and his brother Sazan, whom he had associated in the throne, received baptism,
and, by their fervour, were a spur to their subjects in the practice of every
virtue and religious duty. The Arian Emperor Constantius conceived an
implacable jealousy against St. Frumentius, because he was linked in faith and
affection with St. Athanasius; and when he found that he was not even to be
tempted, much less seduced by him, he wrote a haughty letter to the two
converted kings, in which he commanded them with threats, to deliver up
Frumentius into the hands of George, the barbarous invader of the see of
Alexandria. This letter was communicated by them to St. Athanasius, who has
inserted it in his apology to Constantius. Our holy bishop continued to feed
and defend his flock till it pleased the Supreme Pastor to recompense his
fidelity and labours. The Latins commemorate him on the 27th of October; the
Greeks on the 30th of November. The Abyssinians honour him as the apostle of
the country of the Axumites, which is the most considerable part of their
empire. 4 They
also place among the saints the two kings Aizan, whom they call Abreha and
Sazan, whose name in their modern language is Atzbeha. St. Frumentius they
call St. Fremonat.
In every age, from Christ down to this very time, some new nations
have been added to the fold of Christ, as the annals of the church show; and
the apostacy of those that have forsaken the path of truth, has been repaired
by fresh acquisitions. This is the work of the Most High; the wonderful effect
of all-powerful grace. It is owing to the divine blessing that the heavenly
seed fructifies in the hearts of men, and it is God who raises up, and animates
with his spirit zealous successors of the apostles, whom he vouchsafes to make
his instruments in this great work. We are indebted to his gratuitous mercy for
the inestimable benefit of this light of faith. If we correspond not
faithfully, with fear and trembling, to so great a grace, our punishment will
be so much the more dreadful.
Note 1. The Ethiopians are so called in Greek, from the black colour of
their skin. Herodotus and other ancients mention some in Asia, near the Araxis,
&c. and others in Africa, where their territories reached from the Red Sea
above Egypt beyond the equator, and very far to the west, taking in all the
middle parts of Africa. Probably an early colony from Asia mingled with these
Africans. Whence Ethiopia above Egypt is often called by the ancients, India,
no less than the Southern Asia. Blacks anciently peopled many of the southern
islands of Asia: perhaps passed from thence into Africa. Huet (Diss. on
Paradise) shows against Bochart, that Chus, son of Cham, was father of the
Madianites, and also (by his descendants at least) of the Ethiopians.
The Ethiopians anciently disputed antiquity and science, especially
in astronomy, with the Egyptians. Lucian observes (Astrol.) that their open
southern country was most proper for observing the stars. Their manners were
then most pure, as was their doctrine on morality, according to the remark of
Abbé Marsy from Diodorus Siculus, &c. If their science of the heavens
exceeded general observations of the seasons, of the annual revolution of the
sun, the monthly changes or phases of the moon, and the like, it was in the
lapse of time buried in oblivion, and Ethiopia sunk into that state of
barbarism which, to this day, has ever covered the whole face of Africa, except
Egypt, and those parts which successively two Phenician colonies and afterwards
the Romans cultivated.
Abyssinia, called by the ancients Ethiopia under Egypt, is thought
to have taken its name from Habasch, a supposed son of Chus, or, from that word
which in Hebrew (the original language of Palestine and Arabia) signifies
a Mixture or a Stranger. For a colony of Sabæans passed
hither about the time of Solomon, from the southern point of Arabia, and the
country lower towards the Red Sea, which, beyond the sandy coast, is the most
fruitful and delightful part of Arabia Felix, now rich in the best coffee about
Mocca, and bordering on the only province in the world which produces true
frankincense. These Sabæans mixed with the first inhabitants of Abyssinia, as
their histories mention, and as appears in the features and many ancient
customs, in which the Abyssinians resemble the Arabs more than the Ethiopians.
The Abyssinians imbibed the Eutychian heresy from Dioscorus, the heretical
patriarch of Alexandria, to which they still adhere. The Jesuits and other
missionaries converted many in this kingdom to the Catholic faith, and the
great and good Emperor Zadenghel himself, who was slain fighting against rebels
that took up arms in defence of their ancient heresy in 1604, and his
successor, Negus Susnejos, surnamed Sultan-Saghed, who, after a troublesome
reign of twenty-five years, died constant in the Catholic faith, in 1632. His
son and successor, Basilides Sultan-Saghed, a zealous Eutychian, by law
banished all the missionaries and Portuguese, and forbid the Catholic religion.
Many who, out of charity for their converts staid behind, were crowned with
martyrdom with many of the converts. Several attempts have been since made by
missionaries to find admittance; but always without success, so strictly are
the frontiers guarded. In the prosperous times of this mission several Jesuits
were successively ordained Latin patriarchs of Ethiopia. See Modern Universal
Hist. vol. 15, 8vo. and Hist. d’Asie, Afrique, et Amerique, par. M. L. A. R. t.
11, p. 12, 28. &c. [back]
Note 2. See Ludolf, Hist. Æthiop. M. Almeida, Hist. of Higher Ethiopia,
and Thevenot. [back]
Note 3. The Abyssinians or Ethiopians received the first seeds of the
faith from the eunuch of their queen, who being baptized by St. Philip the
Deacon, (Act. viii. 7.) afterwards initiated many of his countrymen in the
Christian religion, as Eusebius assures us. (l. 2, c. 1.) See the Bollandists,
(t. 1, Junij. p. 618.) Tillemont, (t. 2, p. 72, et 531.) Job Ludolf, (Hist.
Æthiop. l. 3, c. 4.) But the Abyssinians acknowledge that they owe their
conversion principally to St. Frumentius. They were in later ages engaged in
the Eutychian heresy, and to this day believe only one nature in Christ. In the
sixteenth century their king sent an embassy to Pope Clement VII. Several
missions have been established in that country. The Jesuits were sent thither
by Gregory XIII. but were all banished in 1636. The success of several other
missions of Capuchins and others had been prosperous for some time, but failed
in the end: and in 1670, several missionaries suffered martyrdom in that
country. Others are from time to time sent thither from Rome. See Ludolph,
Renaudot, (Apol. pour l’Hist. des. Patr. Alexandr. p. 162.) Fabricius, (Salut.
Lux. Evang. c. 45.) Cerri, secretary to the Congr. de Propagandâ Fide,
(Istruzione dello stato della Congr. di Prop. Fide, in 1670, p. 122.) La
Croze (Hist. du Christianisme d’Ethiope et d’Armenie, at the Hague, in 1739)
commits many gross mistakes in his account of these missions in
Abyssinia. [back]
Note 4. Axuma was capital of all Ethiopia: now called Accum, reduced to a
village since the kings of Abyssinia reside at a great distance: small and in
ruins, it is called the only city in Abyssinia. It is forty-two leagues from
Adala, two miles from the Red Sea, the ancient great sea-port of all Ethiopia.
Obelisks, ancient inscriptions in characters entirely unknown, neighbouring
vast and magnificent vaults for burying-places, like those near Memphis,
&c. are proofs of its ancient magnificence. [back]
Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). Volume X: October. The Lives
of the Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/10/271.html
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-frumentius/
St. Frumentius, October
27th
St. Frumentius helped in
a great capacity to bring Christianity to Ethiopia. He was born in
Lebanon, and was shipwrecked in East Africa while voyaging on the Red Sea. Only
he and his brother, Aedeius, survived.
They were taken to the
king at Axum, Ethiopia, and became members of the court. When the king died,
the two brothers stayed on as part of the queen's court. She permitted them to
introduce Christianity to the country, as well as opening up trade between
Ethiopia and the west.
Frumentius convinced St.
Athanasius to send missionaries from Alexandria, and he was later
consecrated as the bishop of Ethiopia. He converted many people to Christianity
before his death in 380. He is the patron of Ethiopia. His brother, Aedeius,
was also canonized.
SOURCE : https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-frumentius-of-ethiopia-637
Saints of
the Day – Frumentius of Ethiopia
(also known as Fremonat)
Died c.380. According to
their contemporary Rufinus, two young Christian brothers named Frumentius and
Aedesius (Aedisius) were studying philosophy in Tyre under Meropius (or
Metrodorus), who decided around the year 330 that he would like to take a voyage
along the coasts of Arabia. To the young men’s overwhelming delight, he offered
to take them with him.
The journey went well,
but on their homeward trip the ship docked at Adulis, Abyssinia (Ethiopia), to
take on fresh supplies. The sailors got into a fight with the locals, leading
to the murder of Meropius and everyone on ship. The boys escaped because they
were studying their lessons under a tree a distance from the ship. When they
were discovered, they were taken as slaves to the court of the king of Aksum
(Axum) in Tigre.
The king was impressed by
their bearing and learning and the fortunes of the young Christians prospered.
Frumentius, the elder brother, was made the king’s chief secretary. Aedesius
became his cup-bearer. They gained permission even for Greek merchants to open
some churches in Ethiopia and to try to convert the people. And when the king
died, he gave the two men their freedom. They remained for a time at the
request of the widowed queen to help rule the country.
Eventually the two princes,
named Abreha and Asbeha, came to the throne. The Tyrian brothers resigned their
posts although their new king urged them to stay. Aedesius returned to Tyre
where he was ordained and met Rufinus, who incorporated their story into his
Church History.
Frumentius, desiring to
convert the whole of his adopted country, made his way to Alexandria and
explained the Ethiopian situation to Saint Athanasius. He urgently asked
Athanasius to send a bishop to Aksum to consolidate all that had been done
there for Christ. Either Athanasius or a synod unanimously chose Frumentius for
the work, ordained him bishop, and sent him back to plant the Christian church
in Ethiopia, which he did in Aksum.
“Apostolic signs
accompanied his ministry, and great numbers of heathen were won to the faith”
(Rufinus). Among those converted were Abreha and Asbeha, the two royal
brothers, despite the attempts of the Arian Emperor Constantius to discredit
him because of his connection with Athanasius.
Whatever the exact
details of the Tyrian youths’ adventures, there is strong confirmation of the
presence in Ethiopia of a bishop named Frumentius, consecrated by Saint
Athanasius about the middle of the fourth century.
After his death the
Abyssinians dubbed him Abuna (which means ‘Our Father’) and Aba salama (which
means ‘Father of peace’). Abuna is still the title of the primate of the Church
of Ethiopia (Attwater, Bentley, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Walsh).
In art Frumentius is
represented as a bishop elevating a Host, sometimes with Saint Athanasius,
sometimes shipwrecked with his brother Saint Aedesius. Saint Frumentius is
venerated as the first evangelizer of Ethiopia (Roeder).
MLA
Citation
Katherine I
Rabenstein. Saints of the Day, 1998. CatholicSaints.Info.
6 August 2020. Web. 29 October 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saints-of-the-day-frumentius-of-ethiopia/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saints-of-the-day-frumentius-of-ethiopia/
Pictorial
Lives of the Saints – Saint Frumentius, Bishop
Saint
Frumentius was yet a child when his uncle, Meropius of Tyre, took him and his
brother Edesius on a voyage to Ethiopia. In the course of their voyage the
vessel touched at a certain port, and the barbarians of that country put the
crew and all the passengers to the sword, except the two children. They were
carried to the king, at Axuma, who, charmed with the wit and sprightliness of
the two boys, took special care of their education; and, not long after, made
Edesius his cup-bearer, and Frumentius, who was the elder, his treasurer and
secretary of state; on his death-bed, he thanked them for their services, and,
in recompense, gave them their liberty. After his death, the queen begged them
to remain at court, and assist her in the government of the state until the
young king came of age. Edesius went back to Tyre, but Saint Athanasius
ordained Frumentius bishop of the Ethiopians, and vested with this sacred
character, he gained great numbers to the faith, and continued to feed and
defend his flock till it pleased the Supreme Pastor to recompense his fidelity
and labors.
Reflection – “The soul
that journeys in the light and the truths of the faith is safe against all
error.”
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-frumentius-bishop/
Saint Frumentius
Bishop, Apostle of Ethiopia
(† 383)
Saint Frumentius was
still a child when his uncle, a Christian philosopher of Tyre in Phoenicia,
took him and his brother Edesius on a voyage to Ethiopia. In the course of
their voyage the vessel anchored at a certain port, and the barbarians of that
country slew with the sword all the crew and passengers, except the two
children.
Because of their youth
and beauty they were taken to the king at Axuma, who, charmed with the wit and
sprightliness of the two boys, took special care of their education, and later
made Edesius his cup-bearer and Frumentius, who was a little older, his
treasurer and secretary of state. The king, on his deathbed, thanked them for
their services and in reward gave them their liberty.
After his death the queen
begged them to remain at court and assist her in the government of the state
until the young prince came of age; this they did, using their influence to
spread Christianity. When the young king reached his majority, Edesius desired
to return to Tyre, and Frumentius accompanied him as far as Alexandria. There
he begged Saint Athanasius, its Patriarch, to send a bishop to the country
where they had spent many years; and the Patriarch, considering him the best
possible candidate for this office, in the year 328 consecrated him bishop for
the Ethiopians.
Vested with this sacred
character he gained great numbers to the Faith by his discourses and miracles,
and the entire nation embraced Christianity with its young king, thus
fulfilling a famous prophecy of Isaiah, uttered 800 years before Christ. (Isaiah 45:14) Saint
Frumentius continued to feed and defend his flock until it pleased the Supreme
Pastor to call him home and reward his fidelity and labors, in about the year
383.
We may note that the date
of October 27th is also the feast day of a king of Ethiopia, Saint
Elesbaan, who after overcoming the enemies of Christ, sent his royal diadem to
Jerusalem in the time of the Emperor Justinus, and embraced monastic life. He
died 250 years after Saint Frumentius, in 523.
Little Pictorial Lives of
the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's Lives of the Saints and
other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894).
SOURCE : https://sanctoral.com/en/saints/saint_frumentius.html
San
Frumenzio del Regno di Axum
St
Frumentius, the Apostle of Ethiopia
San Frumenzio Vescovo
in Etiopia
Festa: 20 luglio
sec. IV
Ruffino ci racconta che
mentre Frumenzio e l'amico Edesio tornavano a Tiro da un viaggio, gli Etiopi
uccisero tutti i componenti della loro nave. I due ragazzi furono risparmiati
per la loro giovane età e dati come schiavi al re, di cui Frumenzio divenne
coppiere. Alla corte di Axum si convertirono al cristianesimo per merito di
mercanti greco-romani. In seguito i giovani ebbero il permesso di tornare in
patria. Mentre Edsio si recò a Tiro dove contatti con San Riffino, Frumenzio si
incontrò ad Alessandra d'Egitto con il vescovo Atanasio da cui fu consacrato
primo vescovo di Axum. Ritornato ad Axum, sembra che ne abbia convertito il
giovane re, come una iscrizione fa supporre. Il messaggio evangelico da lui
portato attecchì talmente in Etiopia da resistere, secoli dopo, anche
l'invasione islamica.
Emblema: Bastone
pastorale
Martirologio
Romano: In Etiopia, san Frumenzio, vescovo, che fu dapprima prigioniero e,
ordinato poi vescovo da sant’Atanasio, propagò il Vangelo in questa regione.
Tra i Santi dei giorno c'è una figura che ricorda un fatto storico di suggestivo interesse nei secoli dei Medioevo, quando i Crociati di ritorno dalla Terrasanta portarono in Europa una mirabolante notizia: a Gerusalemme, avevano incontrato alcuni pellegrini negri, venuti da un lontano paese africano, uomini di ignota civiltà, eppure di chiara fede cristiana.
A quei tempi, l'Africa non apparteneva alla geografia del cristianesimo, da quando le regioni cristiane della costa mediterranea erano state spazzate via dalla grande invasione degli Arabi musulmani, nel VII secolo. Si comprende perciò la sorpresa nell'apprendere che nei luoghi più selvaggi dell'Africa sconosciuta vivevano uomini nerissimi di pelle e strani d'aspetto, ma che serbavano la fede cristiana al di là del baluardo della dominazione mussulmana.
Si cominciò così a parlare del regno del favoloso prete Gianni, potente Sovrano e sacerdote dei suo popolo. Dove si trovasse questo antico Regno, civile e giusto, in un paese vasto e ricco, nessuno sapeva dirlo con esattezza, ma con insistenza veniva fatto il nome di una regione detta Etiopia.
Non sapremo mai chi fosse il favoloso prete Gianni; sappiamo però, dagli storici dei primi secoli della Chiesa, chi fosse colui che per primo portò il Cristianesimo in Etiopia.
Non era stato un missionario, ma un ragazzo dei IV secolo. Si chiamava Frumenzio, e viaggiava con un altro ragazzo, Edesio, al seguito di un filosofo loro precettore. Tornando dalle Indie, fecero scalo ad Abdulis, sul Mar Rosso, dove gli Etiopi massacrarono l'equipaggio della nave, filosofo compreso. I due ragazzi, che erano a terra intenti allo studio, vennero catturati vivi e offerti in dono al Re degli Etiopi. Erano ambedue svegli e intelligenti, e piacquero al Sovrano. Frumenzio divenne suo segretario, Edesio coppiere. Alla morte del Re, furono consiglieri dell'erede minorenne, e Frumenzio ottenne di poter costruire chiese per i mercanti cristiani che passavano dal paese.
Attorno a queste chiese, lentamente e faticosamente, il Cristianesimo si apprese anche agli Etiopi, mentre Edesio e Frumenzio furono lasciati liberi, a malincuore, di ritornare ai loro paesi.
Ad Alessandria, in Egitto, Frumenzio chiese al grande Vescovo Atanasio di inviare sacerdoti e Vescovi nel lontano paese dove egli aveva gettato con successo il primo seme cristiano. Sant'Atanasio lo ascoltò con grande interesse, e non trovò di meglio che consacrar Vescovo lui stesso, rimandandolo come Apostolo tra gli Etiopi.
Fu accolto con affetto e con onore, chiamato " rivelatore della luce
" e Abba Salama cioè padre pacifico. Gli Etiopi, dicono gli storici,
" Si convertirono in numero infinito ". E da allora, attraverso tutte
le vicende della storia, non dimenticarono più la fede insegnata loro da San
Frumenzio, ragazzo cristiano e avventuroso missionario.
Fonte : Archivio
Parrocchia
SOURCE : https://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/75400
Il nostro santo patrono
San FRUMENZIO
Frumenzio è nativo di
Tiro. Egli giunse ad Axum per un caso provvidenziale. Un ricco commerciante e
filosofo di Tiro, di nome Merope, attratto dai racconti meravigliosi dei
viaggiatori che avevano percorso il Mar Rosso e l'oceano Indiano, si era deciso
a compiere lo stesso viaggio avventuroso. Sulla strada dei ritorno approdò
sulle coste occidentali dei Mar Rosso, nei pressi della città di Adulis (poco
distante dall'attuale villaggio di Zula), allora centro importante e porto
principale di Etiopia, per cercarvi acqua e vettovagliamenti.
Disgraziatamente venne
assalito da una banda e.massacrato con tutto il suo equipaggio. Alla terribile
strage sopravvissero solo due giovanetti: Frumenzio ed Edesia, nipoti di
Merope, i quali furono risparmiati in considerazione della loro giovane età e,
in un secondo momento, per le loro doti, furono condotti alla corte di Axum.
Quivi rimasero per vari anni guadagnandosi la benevolenza dei re e di tutta la
corte. Divennero responsabili di delicati uffici che disimpegnarono sempre con
somma e rara capacità. Il re volle premiare la loro fedeltà al servizio dei suo
regno concedendo loro, dopo la sua morte, la facoltà di far ritorno alla loro
patria o di fare quello che meglio loro piacesse.
Trovandosi in quel tempo nel regno un certo numero di romani attratti dal commercio, Frumenzio trovò tra essi alcuni cristiani con i quali cominciò una vita fraterna. Divenuto in seguito primo ministro e poi reggente in nome dei figli dei re, troppo giovani, egli non trascurò nessun mezzo per far conoscere ed onorare il cristianesimo. Liberato da ogni impegno politico dopo la assunzione al trono di Axum dei figli dei re, Frumenzio chiese prima di tornare in patria, ma viste le buone intenzioni dei reggenti e dei popolo verso il cristianesimo, decise di dedicare tutta intera la sua vita a portare la luce dei Vangelo in Etiopia.
Invece di tornare in patria, si recò ad Alessandria, da Atanasio. Frumenzio
espose al grande vescovo la situazione e le buone disposizioni degli etiopi
pregandolo di voler provvedere alla loro evangelizzazione. Atanasio accolse con
gioia la notizia e le sagge indicazioni di Frumenzio, e, non credendo di
trovare una persona più adatta di lui per quell'impresa, lo trattenne con s'è
per alcuni anni, durante i quali lo preparò alla sua alta missione e
infine, dopo averlo consacrato vescovo, lo rimandò in Etiopia con altri collaboratori.
Frumenzio fu accolto trionfalmente ad Axum dal popolo e dai reggitori. La sua
conoscenza della lingua e dei costumi, il suo ascendente e la sua dignità gli
assicurarono immediato e duraturo successo. Gli etiopi gli diedero subito il
nome di "abuna Salama Kesetie Berhan": padre pacifico rivelatore
della luce. In tal modo Frumenzio divenne il primo vescovo dell'Abissinia che
lo onora come il suo apostolo. Frumenzio scelse Axum come sua sede, vicino ai
giovani principi Aizana e Sazana di cui aveva curato l'educazione e di cui
godeva la massima fiducia.
Una delle prime intraprese dei giovane vescovo fu la traduzione della Bibbia in lingua locale, lavoro che fu condotto a termine dai suoi successori e che ebbe vastissima eco nel mondo religioso del tempo. Curò pure la traduzione nella lingua locale della liturgia alessandrina adottando, per arricchirla sempre più, canti, strumenti, riti popolari opportunamente modificati e cristianizzati.
La traduzione della Bibbia e l'introduzione della liturgia in lingua locale
rappresentarono un elemento fondamentale per l'affermazione definitiva dei
cristianesimo nel paese. L'Etiopia, nella strategia missionaria di Frumenzio,
data la sua posizione di punta avanzata dei cristianesimo, poteva e doveva
diventare un centro di irradiazione e un punto di partenza per conquistare
tutta la Africa a Cristo; ma questa sua naturale funzione venne purtroppo
frustrato.
Ci mancano i dettagli
sugli ultimi anni di Frumenzio, come pure sui destini immediati dei
cristianesimo abissino. I famosi Nove Santi Romani si adoperarono assai, sia
per completare l'opera di traduzione in Gheez della S.Scrittura, sia per
consolidare la fede dei neofiti. Nel VI secolo Cosmas Indicopleuste riferisce
che vi sono in Etiopia vescovi, preti e monaci, prova evidente che l'opera di
Frumenzio non solo era sopravvissuta, ma, dopo la suo morte, si era
ulteriormente dilatato. Uno di tali vescovi risiedeva pure in Adulis, la città
dei Mar Rosso.
ultimo aggiornamento
16 giugno 2004
SOURCE : https://web.archive.org/web/20060507161739/http://www.sanfrumenzio.org/chi/patrono.htm
