Orthodox Christian Initiative for Africa: Yemen

Εμφάνιση αναρτήσεων με ετικέτα Yemen. Εμφάνιση όλων των αναρτήσεων

Κυριακή 19 Δεκεμβρίου 2021

Saint Gregentios of Ethiopia (December 19)

Our father among the saints Gregentios of Himyaritia,^[1]^[2] also Gregentios of Taphar,^[3] Gregentios of Ethiopia,^[1] Gregentius of Himyar,^[4] Gregentius Tephrensis,^[5] Grigentius of Omir,^[6] Gregory of Omiritia,^[2] or Gregory of Omirits,^[7] was the missionary Bishop of Himyaritia (Homer, Omirits, in Sourthern Arabia) for over thirty years in the sixth century, when the area was under Aksumite control, playing an important role in the restoration of Orthodox Christianity there after the persecution of Dunaan (Dhû Nuwâs).^[8]

Saint Gregentios was filled with the grace of God and possessed the gifts of healing and wonderworking even in his youth.^[7] By the grace of God, he accomplished his mission with much zeal and great fruition, bringing into bosom of the Church a great number of the Jews of that area.^[1] He reposed peacefully in the year 552 AD, and his feast day is celebrated annually on December 19.

Biography

Early Life

St. Gregentios lived in the sixth century AD and came from Mediolanum (Milan). His parents were called Agapios and Theodotia, and were very devout. From a very early age Gregentios was distinguished for his eloquence and for his great virtues,^[1] and the Providence of God led him to hierarchical service.

While still a Deacon at Mediolanum, he heard the foretelling of his destiny from a hermit, and then he received confirmation of these words from another spirit-bearing Elder, who lived an ascetic life in the mountains.^[7]

When Gregentios went to this holy Schemamonk for guidance, a miracle occurred. As he approached the mountain, he saw a fiery column in the air. He soon realized that the fiery column was actually the man of God coming toward him. That night he saw the Elder standing in the air above the ground. The Elder revealed to St. Gregentios that he must go to Rome to pray in the church of Saints Boniface and Aglaida (December 19); then he would go to Alexandria to become a Bishop; and finally he would arrive in the city of Negran (Najran) in the land of Himyaritia (Homer, Omer, in Southern Arabia) to proclaim the Gospel.^[7]

Sts Boniface & Aglaida, from here

St. Gregentios felt himself unworthy of this, and wished to remain with the ascetic as his disciple. So that Gregentios should have no doubts of the veracity of his words, the Elder revealed that he knew a secret about him. In a vision, Gregentios had seen the First-Ranked Apostles Peter and Paul, and they had placed a Bishop's Omophorion upon him.^[7]

St. Gregentios stayed a short time in Carthage (North Africa) serving as a Deacon, and then arrived in Rome. He went to the church of Saints Boniface and Aglaida, then to the tomb of St. Peter. There he was granted a vision of the holy Apostle, who told him to walk the path of virtue and to live according to God's will. That night he saw also the Apostle Paul in a dream bringing to him a cup filled with oil, foretelling that he should receive the grace of the priesthood and the episcopacy.^[7]

In Alexandria

Blessed Elesbaan, King of Axum (Ethiopia), and Ascetic (October 24).

After going to Constantinople and becoming known to Emperor Justin I (518-527) and to the Patriarch, he subsequently visited Alexandria.^[1]

During this time the armies of the Ethiopian Emperor Elesbaan (October 24)^[9]^[10] vanquished the Himyarite king Dunaan (Dhu Nuwas), who was of Jewish background and had been persecuting the Christians there and cruelly exterminating all the clergy.^{[note 1]} Thus the Himyaritian city of Negran (Najran) was liberated, and Christianity was restored in the land of Himyaritia.

Elesbaan then sent emissaries to the Patriarch of Alexandria asking him to send a Bishop to Negran who was educated and virtuous, as well as clergy for the churches.^[7] While the Patriarch of Alexandria was praying about this, the holy Apostle Mark appeared to him, bidding him to find a Deacon named Gregentios, who was to be ordained to the Priesthood, consecrated as a Bishop, and then to be sent to Elesbaan.^[7]

The Patriarch did this, electing Gregentios for this mission. During the ordination service a miracle took place. St. Gregentios' face shone with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and from his vestments came a sweet fragrance like myrrh or incense, filling the whole church with the scent.^[7]

In Himyaritia

Himyarite (Homerite) Kingdom (red), in ancient Yemen (3rd c. AD).

Arriving in Himyaritia (Homer, Omer), a region with many Jews,^{[note 2]} St. Gregentios began to set the Church in order, preaching to both pagans and Jews, and performing his ecclesiastical duties excellently.

After three years Elesbaan returned to Ethiopia (Kingdom of Aksum), leaving the noble Abramius behind as King of the Himyarite Kingdom,^{[note 3]} whom St. Gregentios crowned and anointed as king. Shortly afterwards Abramius issued a decree that all of his subjects were to be baptized.^[7]

Debate with the Jews

Then certain prominent Jews turned to the Emperor saying that it was better for people to believe willingly rather than under compulsion. A particularly astute interlocutor from among them was Rabbi Ervan (Herban, Ervas).

They requested that Abramius should permit a debate on faith to be held between them and the Christians, vowing that if the Christians proved victorious in this debate, the Jews would then accept Baptism. The Jews were given forty days to prepare for the debate, which lasted for several days.^[7]

St. Gregentios of Himyaritia.

St. Gregentios however, with his wise arguments and righteousness, and with the divine grace of God, refuted all of the arguments of the Hebrew Elder, Rabbi Ervan, using only texts from the Old Testament.^[7]

Then in a vision, Ervan beheld the holy Prophet Moses, who worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophet Moses told Ervan that Ervan was in opposition to the truth and would be defeated. But Ervan would not acknowledge his defeat. He made a last desperate attempt. He said, "If you want me to believe in your Christ, and to acknowledge that yours is the true God, then show Him to me, Bishop!" The Saint replied: "Your request is impertinent. It is not with man that you contend now, but with God. However, the Lord can do what you have asked in order to convince you."^[7]

Everyone waited to see what would happen. St Gregentios, having steadfast faith in God and trusting in Him, began to pray aloud. He recalled the mystery of the Incarnation of God the Word, the miracles of His earthly life, the Three-day Resurrection and the Ascension into Heaven, and he invoked the power of the Life-Creating Cross. "Show Thyself to these people, O Lord," he prayed, "and glorify Thy holy Name!" When he finished the prayer, the earth quaked, and in the east the heavens were opened, and in a radiant cloud of light the Lord Jesus Christ came down on earth, and the Voice of the Lord was heard:

"Through the prayers of Bishop Gregentios, He Whom your fathers put to death will heal you."^[7]

Like Saul, who was struck blind by the Heavenly light on the road to Damascus, the Jews were struck blind. Then they believed in Christ and they implored the holy Bishop to heal them.^[7] Upon receiving holy Baptism, all of them were healed. Rabbi Ervan (Herban, Ervas) was baptized in the presence of the king, and received the Christian name Leo (meaning "lion"), and was honored with the office of Patrician.^[1] Thus by the grace of God, Christian truth prevailed.

Departure

After this most extraordinary miracle, St. Gregentios guided the flock of Himyaritia (Homer, Omer) for another thirty years, accomplishing his mission with much zeal and great fruition, and managing to bring into bosom of the Church most of the Jews of that area.^[1]^[7] Legend has it that the number of Jews converted and baptized was 5,500,000.^[11]

He reposed peacefully on December 19, 552, and his loss was lamented by many people.^[1] He was buried in a crypt in the cathedral of Afar.^[7]

Christianity is a minority religion in Yemen today. The World Christian Encyclopedia (Second edition, Volume 1), states that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church are the largest denominations in Yemen.

As Author

A Disputatio cum Herbano Judaeo , which Krumbacher assigns to the time of Justinian, is attributed to Gregentius, Bishop of Taphar in Himyaritic Arabia. When Herban asserts that Solomon controlled all demons, the Bishop replies:

(Greek)

"Σολομων εταπεινωσε δαιμονας; ουκ οιδας τι διαγορευεις. προς καιρον μεν ησφαλισατο τουτους εν τοις αγγειοις και σφραγισας κατεχωσεν."

The use of the article with αγγειοις marks the detail as well known, and the sentence evidently summarizes the story told in the modern Greek manuscript.^[12]

Gregentius Tephrensis. Disputatio cum Herbano Judaeo, Graece edita, cum Interpretatione ... N.K. Nic. Gulonij .... 1603.
Saint Gregentius (Apb of Taphar). Disputatio cum Herbano Judæo: Interprete N. Gulonio. 1677.

Sources

Great Synaxaristes (Greek)

Ὁ Ὅσιος Γρηγέντιος Ἐπίσκοπος Αἰθιοπίας. 19 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic. Saint Gregory (Grigentius), Bishop of Omir. The Prologue from Ohrid. Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese of Western America.
Sainted Gregory, Bishop of Omiritia (Himyaritia). HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (A parish of the Patriarchate of Moscow).
St Gregory the Archbishop of Omirits. OCA - Feasts and Saints.
Sergew Hable-Selassie. Gregentius, fl. 6th century, Orthodox. Dictionary of African Christian Biography.

Gregentius, Bishop, sent as bishop to South Arabia when the area was under Aksumite control. He played an important role in the restoration of Christianity there after the persecution of Dhû Nuwâs. He is believed to have been the author of Legis Homeritanum.

Σάββατο 30 Ιανουαρίου 2016

Out of Africa : Second suicide bombing in two days in Yemen's Aden kills seven

Bombing targets police checkpoint not far from site of suicide attack on Thursday that killed eight people, outside presidential palace in Aden

The Guardian

A suicide bombing killed seven people and wounded seven others on Friday night in Aden – the second deadly attack in as many days in Yemen’s second city, medics and security sources said.
The bombing targeted a police checkpoint not far from the site of a suicide attack on Thursday that killed eight people, including soldiers and civilians, outside the presidential palace in the city, the sources said.
A hospital spokesman confirmed that seven people were killed in Friday’s bombing.
There was no immediate claim of responsiblity for the attack but the Islamic State group said it was responsible for Thursday’s bombing.
Al-Qaida and Isis both have a presence in Aden, where jihadists occupy government buildings and are seen patrolling several districts and intimidating civilians.
They have claimed a string of attacks and assassinations in recent months.
President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi was in the palace at the time of Thursday’s attack but unharmed, a government official said.
Aden has become the temporary headquarters of Hadi’s government as it battles to retake large parts of Yemen from Shia Houthi rebels.
Hadi fled to Aden after escaping house arrest in the capital, Sanaa, which was overran by the Houthis in September 2014. The rebels then moved south, forcing Hadi to flee in March to Riyadh.
Hadi loyalists backed by Saudi-led airstrikes recaptured the port city of Aden but they are still battling to retake other provinces and push toward the rebel-held capital.
The United Nations says more than 5,800 people have been killed in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula state, about half of them civilians, since the coalition air campaign was launched 10 months ago.

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Jihadists - ISIS & al Qaeda in Africa

Burkina Faso: Burkina Hotel Splendid Siege Ends but Other Hotel, Restaurant Still Under Assault

Kenyan Muslim who shielded Christians in al-Shabab attack dies

Παρασκευή 30 Οκτωβρίου 2015

AFRIKA MAGHARIBI: Hatua za Pamoja Dhidi ya Uharamia

Picha hapa : No country for Pirates

Noël Kokou Tadégnon

Tayari kuna zaidi ya mashambulizi matatu ya meli yaliyofanywa na maharamia katika Pwani ya Afrika Magharibi mwaka huu. Serikali za kikanda zitakutana mjini Cotonou, Benin mwezi Oktoba kujadili jitihada za pamoja za kutokomeza uharamia.

LOME, Oct 10 (IPS) - Takwimu za mashambulizi zinatokana na matukio yaliyoripotiwa na waongoza meli kwa Kituo cha Kimataifa cha Kutoa Taarifa za Uharamia Baharini na zinaonyesha tishio linalozidi kuongezeka la usafiri wa meli katika ukanda wenye utajiri wa mafuta.

Mashambulizi ya karibuni zaidi ni yale ya Sep. 15 dhidi ya meli ya mafuta ya Mattheos I ikiwa na wafanyakazi wake 23 katika pwani ya Togo. Siku kumi baadaye, wamiliki wa meli kutoka Hispania waliviambia vyombo vya habari kuwa meli hiyo na wafanyakazi wake wameshaachiliwa huru; bila kulipwa kwa fedha zozote zile zilizodaiwa na watekaji lakini baadhi ya mafuta ya dizeli yaliibwa katika meli hiyo.

Serikali katika mwambao wa Afrika Magharibi zimeonyesha wasiwasi wao kuhusu kuongezeka kwa idadi ya mashambulizi dhidi ya meli za mizigo, na zinataka kukusanya rasilimali chache walizonazo kuendesha hatua za pamoja, kama vile kushika doria katika Ghuba ya Guinea.

"Lakini hatutaki kuishia tu kwenye doria za pamoja kati ya Benin na Nigeria; hivi karibuni tutaenea na kuhusisha majeshi ya Togo na Ghana," Kamanda Maxime Ahoyo, mkuu wa Jeshi la Majini la Benin, aliiambia IPS.

"Kama tutakabiliana na matatizo ya uharamia katika maji ya Benin lakini, kwa mfano, tutaacha kuchukua tahadhari za kiusalama katika maji ya Togo, na kama hatutaungana na wenzetu wa Togo na nchi nyingine, hali hii – ambayo ina mtandao mpana – itazidi kuenea."

Madhara ya kiuchumi

Rais wa Jumuiya ya Kiuchumi ya Mataifa ya Afrika Magharibi, James Victor Gbeho, ametoa wito wa kuchukuliwa kwa hatua dhidi ya uharamia na kupanuliwa na kuingiza mataifa yote katika pwani.

"Majeshi ya majini katika mataifa yetu yote ya ukanda wa pwani yanapaswa kuunganisha nguvu zao siku zote," Gbeho aliiambia IPS, huku akisitiza imani yake kuwa tatizo la uharamia lazima kupatiwa ufumbuzi kamilifu. "Hali hiyo inazidi kutisha na inaweza kuwa na madhara makubwa ya kiuchumi kwa nchi zetu. Hii ndiyo sababu tutachukua hatua dhidi yake."

Uharamia tayari umeshasababisha makampuni ya bima ya vyombo vya baharini mjini London kuiingiza Benin katika orodha ya kuwepo katika ukanda wa hatari kubwa ya usafiri wa meli. Makampuni ya bima ya vyombo vya baharini yanayowakilishwa na chama cha ‘Lloyd's Market Association’ yanadai ada kubwa kulipia meli zinazopita katika ukanda huo.

Kulingana na Bénetti Gagalo, Katibu Mkuu Msaidizi wa Chama cha Walaji cha Togo, hali hiyo ni wazi itakuwa na madhara katika kipato cha bandari za ukanda huo ikiwa ni pamoja na gharama za bidhaa za walaji.

Msaada kutoka nje

Dharula ya hali hiyo imesababisha serikali za kikanda kuomba msaada kutoka Ufaransa na Marekani, ambao wameshapeleka vifaa vya majini katika eneo hilo.

Manuwari ya Kifaransa ya Germinal, tayari inafanya doria katika pwani ya Benin, Togo na Ghana kujaribu na kupunguza uharamia, ikiwa ni pamoja na kutoa mafunzo kwa askari wa majini kutoka nchi zote tatu.

"Tumewapatia mafunzo askari hawa wa majini, na wameshiriki katika mazoezi yote ya kiusalama na kufanya doria ambayo tumeyafanya kuzuia uharamia. Na wametusaidia na maarifa yao waliyonayo katika eneo hili la oparesheni," Sébastien Chatelin, nahodha wa manuwari hiyo ya Kifaransa, aliiambia IPS.

Manuwari ya Kimarekani, HSV Swift, pia imefika katika Ghuba ya Guinea, ikisaidia kupambana na uharamaia huku ikitoa mafunzo kwa askari wa majini wa Benin, Togo na Ghana kama sehemu ya mpango wa kijeshi wa Marekani ujulikanao kama "Africa Partnership Station".

"Lengo letu ni kujaribu na kutoa mafunzo kwa washirika wa Afrika juu ya usalama," alisema nahodha wa chombo hicho cha Marekani, Rhett S. Mann.

"Mpango wa APS utaturuhusu kufanya kazi pamoja kukabiliana na matatizo ambayo yanaathiri maji ya pwani yetu," aliongeza Sam Nkruma, ofisa kutoka jeshi la majini la Ghana.

Askari mwenzake wa Benin, Christian Oussa, alikaribisha mafunzo waliyopata wakiwa katika meli mbili za jeshi la majini. "Hii itaturuhusu kukabiliana na uharamia na wafanyabiashara haramu katika bahari. Tumejifunza jinsi ya kupanda meli zinazotiliwa mashaka na kuzikagua; mafunzo ni mazuri mno," aliiambia IPS. (END/2011)

‘Nchi za Afrika ziungane kudhibiti uharamia’

Ili kukabiliana na vitendo vya uharamia kwenye wa Bahari ya Hindi, nchi za Afrika zimetakiwa

Mwananchi

Dar es Salaam. Ili kukabiliana na vitendo vya uharamia kwenye wa Bahari ya Hindi, nchi za Afrika zimetakiwa kuweka nguvu katika ushirikiano, kwa kuwa si rahisi nchi moja kudhitibi uhalifu huo unaofanya na watu wanaodaiwa kuwa ni raia wa Somalia.

Hayo yalisemwa jana na mkurugenzi wa Mashtaka Tanzania (DPP), Biswalo Mganga wakati akifungua mkutano wa waendesha mashtaka na wapelelezi wa kesi za uharamia kwa nchi zilizopo ukanda wa Afrika Mashariki.

Alisema kuna baadhi ya meli zinakwepa kupita pwani ya Somalia kwa hofu ya maharamia na kulazimika kuzunguka umbali mrefu.

“Matokeo yake, bei za bidhaa zinazoingizwa na meli hizo zinakuwa juu kutokana na kufidia gharama za usafirishaji zinazotokana na meli kutumia njia ndefu,” alisema Mganga.

DPP alisema meli zinazopita pwani ya Somalia zimekuwa zikitozwa kiasi kikubwa cha bima na kwamba gharama hizo zimekuwa zikifidiwa na watumiaji wa bidhaa zinazoletwa na meli hizo.

“Wakati maharamia wanaungana kufanya uhalifu, nasi kama mataifa tunaoathirika na matukio haya tunatakiwa kuungana ili kupambana nao,” alisema.

Aliwataka waendesha mashtaka na wapelelezi wa masuala ya uharamia kubadilishana uzoefu na mbinu za kushughulikia wahalifu hao ili waweze kuadhibiwa.

Naye, balozi wa Umoja wa Ulaya (EU) nchini, Filiberto Sebregondi alisema umoja huo umekuwa ukitoa rasilimali fedha kwa ajili ya kupambana na uharamia kwenye Bahari ya Hindi.

“Tunataka waendesha mashtaka wa makosa ya uharamia katika nchi zilizoko katika pwani ya Bahari ya Hindi, kubadilishana uzoefu kwa lengo la kuwadhibiti maharamia hawa,” alisema.

Sebregondi alisema maharamia hawana mipaka na kwamba nchi mbalimbali zinatakiwa kuweka mtandao wa ushirikiano ili kuwakamata.

“Ni jambo muhimu kwa nchi husika kuliangalia kwa ukubwa zaidi suala hili, kwa kuwa kinyume chake ni kuruhusu uharamia kuendelea,” alisema.

Mkutano huo unashirikisha waendesha mashtaka kutoka nchi za Tanzania, Somalia, Djibouti Shelisheli, Mauritius, Yemen na Kenya.

Ona pia

Uharamia Afrika Magharibi

Uharamia biashara katika Pembe ya Afrika (2008)

Παρασκευή 16 Οκτωβρίου 2015

Kumalizika safari ya Rais Obama barani Afrika

Iran Swahili Radio, 29 Julai 2015

Rais Barack Obama wa Marekani jana baada ya adhuhuri aliondoka Addis Ababa Ethiopia na kuelekea Washington na kwa utaratibu kuhitimisha safari yake ya siku tano barani Afrika ambapo alizitembelea Kenya na Ethiopia. Akihutubu katika makao makuu ya Umoja wa Afrika, Rais Obama alizungumzia uhusiano wenye uwiano na bara la Afrika, vita dhidi ya ugaidi na demokrasia. Wakati Rais Obama alipoingia madarakani wananchi wengi wa Afrika hususan watu wake wa karibu nchini Kenya walifurahi sana. Walikuwa na matarajio makubwa na Rais huyo mwenye damu ya Afrika, hata hivyo sera za Marekani barani Afrika ziliendelea kama zilivyokuwa huko nyuma na hazikuwa na natija chanya na ya kuridhisha kama vile amani kwa bara hilo.

Fauka ya hayo hatua ya Marekani ya kuingilia mambo ya nchi nyingine iliandaa uwanja wa kutokea mivutano na migogoro kwa makumi ya nchi za Kiafrika na hali hiyo kupelekea kutokea vita kadhaa barani Afrika. Hatua za Marekani katika miaka ya hivi karibuni barani Afrika zinaonesha kuwa, serikali ya Washington mbali na kushindana kiuchumi na washindani wenzake kama China barani Afrika, ilichukua hatua ya kupanua harakati zake za kijeshi katika bara hilo. Kuasisiwa kikosi cha Marekani barani Afrika AFRICOM mwaka 2008 kwa kisingizio cha kupambana na ugaidi ni jambo linalotathminiwa katika uwanja huo. Katika hali ambayo kabla ya hapo vita vya siri vya Marekani nchini Somalia, Yemen, Libya na Mali vilikuwa vimefichuliwa, hivi sasa viongozi wa Marekani wametangaza wazi mpango wao wa kutuma wanajeshi wa nchi hiyo kwa uchache katika nchi 35 za Kiafrika.

Jenerali Raymond Odierno Mkuu wa Vikosi vya Marekani amesisitiza katika mahojiano aliyofanyiwa na gazeti la Washington Times kwamba, kutumwa vikosi vya Marekani kunafanyika katika fremu ya stratejia ya nchi hiyo ya kutuma vikosi katika maeneo mbalimbali ya dunia ili ikilazimu iweze kuwa na radiamali ya haraka ya kukabiliana na changamoto itakayojitokeza. Ukweli wa mambo ni kuwa, viongozi wa Marekani wanaamini kuwa, bara la Afrika limo katika hali ya kubadilika na kuwa la kiistratejia katika uga wa kimataifa ambapo kuanzishwa vituo vya kijeshi barani humo ni miongoni mwa malengo ya Washington ya kuwa na satuwa na udhibiti barani humo. Kwa sasa kuna mamia ya wanajeshi wa Marekani nchini Niger. Nchini Chad pia kuna vikosi vya Marekani ambavyo vimetumwa huko kwa kisingizio cha ushirikiano wa kiusalama.

Nchi ya Somalia nayo ni moja ya walengwa wakuu wa operesheni za kijeshi za Marekani yakiwemo mashambulio ya ndege zisizo na rubani. Serikali ya Obama pia ilituma vikosi vya Marekani katika nchi kadhaa za katikati na mashariki mwa Afrika mwaka 2011 kwa kisingizio cha kufanya juhudi za kuwatia mbaroni viongozi wa kundi la waasi wa LRA wa kaskazini mwa Uganda.

Vyombo vya Marekani vimesema kuwa, Washington inataka kuanzisha kituo cha kijeshi cha ndege zisizo na rubani nchini Niger au Burkina Faso ili kupitia kituo hicho iweze kuongoza operesheni za kijasusi kaskazini mwa Afrika. Kambi ya kijeshi ya Lemonnier ya Marekani nchini Djibouti nayo imo katika hali ya kupanuliwa na idadi ya wanajeshi wa Kimarekani walioko katika kambi hiyo wameongezeka. Hapana shaka kuwa, madai ya Marekani ya kupambana na ugaidi yangali yanatumiwa kama wenzo wa Washington wa kupanua hatua zake za kijeshi barani Afrika.

Orthodox Christian Initiative for Africa