Aṣbeḥa, grew up and become joint kings; then the strangers "at last came back to our world." Aedesius hastened to Tyre to see his friends and relations. But Frumentius came to Alexandria (the nearest Christian centre) saying "that it was not right to hide the Lord's work." Here he found the great Athanasius Patriarch. "He told the bishop that he should provide a worthy man to be bishop of the barbarous land for the many Christians already assembled there and for the churches they had already built." Athanasius in a council of his clergy said: "And whom else shall we find in whom is the Spirit of God, as in thee, who could so well do this?" So he ordained Frumentius bishop of the Abyssinians. Frumentius went back to Aksum, preached the gospel with signs and wonders, converted the kings[1] and a great number of people. "From which time in the lands of 'India' people became Christian, churches were built, and a priesthood began." And Aedesius, having been ordained priest at Tyre, also came and helped his old friend to convert the Ethiopians.[2]
The other account puts the whole story much later, either about 450, under a King Tazana,[3] or even at the time of Justinian (527-565).[4] But there seems no reason to doubt Rufinus' date (all agree as to the names of the first missionaries); it is indeed powerfully confirmed by a notice given by St. Athanasius himself (p. 297). So St. Frumentius and St. Aedesius[5] are the apostles of Ethiopia. St. Frumentius is the first Metropolitan of Aksum and Primate of Abyssinia. After his death he was given the title Aba salāma (father of peace),[6] still used by his successors.
6 Ludolf quotes an Ethiopic hymn about Frumentius:
"With joyful voice I greet him, praising and magnifying him, Salāma, gate of mercy and of grace, who made the glorious splendour of Christ shine in Ethiopia, where before were night and darkness." (L. iii. c. ii.).
