ADDIS ABABA – The Pontifical Ethiopian College in the Vatican has celebrated a hundred years anniversary recently, according to Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat.
Deputy Secretary General and National Pastoral Coordinator at the Secretariat, Abba Gabriel Woldehanna told The Ethiopian Herald that the historic college was established in 1919 and provided theological education for Ethiopians followers of the church for hundred years continuously. The hundred years’ centenary was celebrated last week in Vatican, he stated.
Abba Gabriel disclosed that Pontifical Ethiopian College is the only foreign country church college within Vatican. Prior to establishment of the college, the home was given as residence for Ethiopian pilgrims to Rome starting from the 15th century within the surrounding of the Ethiopian Saint Estefan’s Monastery. Abba Gabriel stated that Saint Estefan’s Monastry was given for Ethiopia since 1513.
“It is a historic college where 12 Ethiopian Patriarchs of the church including the first black Bishops in 1930 studied and it gives the highest theological education for hundreds of Ethiopian and Eritreans priest during the past 100 years”, Abba Gabriel said.
Currently the college is providing service for Ethiopian and Eritrean citizens equally.
Meanwhile the college was started service with five students from the current Ethiopia and Eritrea and currently 20 priests are studying in the college for higher level of the church’s studies. In this case during the last hundred years around four hundred priests have obtained the highest theological education in the college.
According to the deputy Secretary General the college plays crucial role in promoting Ethiopia to Europe and was a base for the development of Ethiopian history researches and Ethiopian languages literature.
Meanwhile the church plays significant role in introducing and expanding modern education, for the development of Ethiopian languages literature and Ethiopian history studies. In addition the church was the base for the establishment of Ethiopian Study in Europe and was the bridge for the diplomatic relations of Ethiopia with Europe, he added.
During the past hundred years the college was visited by Emperor Hailessilassie, former Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Roman Catholic Church Patriarch Pope Francis, Ethiopian Catholic Church Archbishop Cardinal Berhaneyesus and Ethiopian and Eritrean Catholic Communities, clergy and Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Italy Zenebu Tadesse have participated the colorful celebration of the centenary of the college, it was learnt.
The Ethiopian Herald January 18/2020
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
