Abuna Qerellos III
Encyclopedia
Qerellos III was an Abuna
, or head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (1816 - 1828?). In the words of Richard Pankhurst
, "A controversial figure, he is reputed to have been fanatical and rapacious."
He came to Ethiopia
12 years after the death of the last effective Abuna, Yosab III, at the efforts of Ras Wolde Selassie
in the last year of the life of the Ras. No sooner had he left Massawa
than he sent forth a demand for the house of Nathaniel Pearce in Chalacot
, because the Abuna had heard it was the finest one in Ras Wolde Selassie's realm; when Pearce refused to give up his home, Abuna Qerellos forbade all priests of the Ethiopian church from providing communion until Pearce changed his mind. Only the efforts of Pearce's wife at last led the Englishman to surrender his house and home to the prelate. Pearce reports that shortly thereafter, Abuna Qerellos proclaimed that "every man wanting to be confirmed a priest must first bring him four amolehs, or pieces of salt
. All new altars, that had been dedicated to the churches since the death of the last Abuna, as well as those that had never been consecrated by the Abuna, were to pay also four pieces of salt each; those who wished to become deacons two pieces of salt each; and all the population, with their young children, that had not been confirmed by former Abunas, were to pay one piece of salt each."
A few weeks later when Ras Wolde Selassie died, Chalacot was sacked by the other warlords of the Zemene Mesafint
. Both Pearce and Abuna Qerellos fled the town for safety elsewhere: Pearce for Adwa
, while the Abuna sought sanctuary at the court of Dejazmach Sabagadis
. In 1819, the Abuna went to Gondar
, where he tried to settle the doctrinal disputes that rent the Ethiopian church; however, when he allegedly supported the Unctionist formula, Qerellos was forced to flee the city for Tigray
. Dejazmach Sabagadis apparently extended him protection once again, but eventually came to despise the cleric. A letter he wrote to Patriarch of Alexandria
Peter
survives, dated to 1827 wherein he complains of the behavior of the Abuna's behavior, sarcastically asking, "Was it because you hated Ethiopia that you sent him? Did you not know his conduct before, [and] so you sent him?"
Donald Crummey notes that "his fate, even the circumstances of his death, are mysterious." A contemporary account, the Church Missionary Society's Missionary Register for 1828 writes that he is said to be living "in Tigré: he is said to be in a state of perpetual intoxication." Mordechai Abir writes that Ras Yimam
banished him to the monastery in Lake Tana
, where Abuna Qerellos remained until his death, although Abir also notes alternative accounts of Abuna Qerellos' death exist: "Another version ... claims that Kerilos was banished to Tigre where after meddling with politics he was killed by Seb'agadis in 1824, or was murdered as a result of a quarrel over some property with one of Seb'agadis's governors". Richard Pankhurst
simply states that he died at some point between 1828 to 1830, "apparently murdered."
Abuna
Also see Leaders of ChristianityAbun is the honorific title used for any bishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church as well as of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church...
, or head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (1816 - 1828?). In the words of Richard Pankhurst
Richard Pankhurst (academic)
Richard Keir Pethick Pankhurst OBE is a British academic with expertise in the study of Ethiopia.-Early life and education:...
, "A controversial figure, he is reputed to have been fanatical and rapacious."
He came to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
12 years after the death of the last effective Abuna, Yosab III, at the efforts of Ras Wolde Selassie
Wolde Selassie
Wolde Selassie He was an Overlord of Tigray-Mereb Milash and a Ras Bitwoded of Ethiopia. He was the second son of Dejazmach Kefla Iyasus Amdamikael, hereditary chief of Enderta...
in the last year of the life of the Ras. No sooner had he left Massawa
Massawa
Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa (Ge'ez ምጽዋዕ , formerly ባጽዕ is a city on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. An important port for many centuries, it was ruled by a succession of polities, including the Axumite Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate,...
than he sent forth a demand for the house of Nathaniel Pearce in Chalacot
Chalacot
Chalacot or Chelekot is a village in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Located in the Enderta woreda of the Debubawi Zone, 10 kilometers north of Antalo and 17 kilometers south of Mek'ele, the village has a latitude and longitude of with an approximate elevation of 2100 meters above sea level...
, because the Abuna had heard it was the finest one in Ras Wolde Selassie's realm; when Pearce refused to give up his home, Abuna Qerellos forbade all priests of the Ethiopian church from providing communion until Pearce changed his mind. Only the efforts of Pearce's wife at last led the Englishman to surrender his house and home to the prelate. Pearce reports that shortly thereafter, Abuna Qerellos proclaimed that "every man wanting to be confirmed a priest must first bring him four amolehs, or pieces of salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
. All new altars, that had been dedicated to the churches since the death of the last Abuna, as well as those that had never been consecrated by the Abuna, were to pay also four pieces of salt each; those who wished to become deacons two pieces of salt each; and all the population, with their young children, that had not been confirmed by former Abunas, were to pay one piece of salt each."
A few weeks later when Ras Wolde Selassie died, Chalacot was sacked by the other warlords of the Zemene Mesafint
Zemene Mesafint
The Zemene Mesafint was a period in Ethiopian history when the country was rent by conflicts between warlords, the Emperor was reduced to little more than a figurehead confined to the capital city of...
. Both Pearce and Abuna Qerellos fled the town for safety elsewhere: Pearce for Adwa
Adwa
Adwa is a market town in northern Ethiopia, and best known as the community closest to the decisive Battle of Adowa fought in 1896 with Italian troops. Notably, Ethiopian soldiers won the battle, thus being the only African nation to thwart European colonialism...
, while the Abuna sought sanctuary at the court of Dejazmach Sabagadis
Sabagadis
Sabagadis was a Dejazmach or governor of Tigray, a province in northern Ethiopia. He was the son of Shum Waldu of Agame, and a member of the Irob people.- Life :...
. In 1819, the Abuna went to Gondar
Gondar
Gondar or Gonder is a city in Ethiopia, which was once the old imperial capital and capital of the historic Begemder Province. As a result, the old province of Begemder is sometimes referred to as Gondar...
, where he tried to settle the doctrinal disputes that rent the Ethiopian church; however, when he allegedly supported the Unctionist formula, Qerellos was forced to flee the city for Tigray
Tigray
Tigray may refer to:* Tigray Region* Tigray Province* Tigray people...
. Dejazmach Sabagadis apparently extended him protection once again, but eventually came to despise the cleric. A letter he wrote to Patriarch of Alexandria
Patriarch of Alexandria
The Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop of Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope , and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome...
Peter
Pope Peter VII of Alexandria
Pope Peter VII of Alexandria ' was the 109th Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark . He was born in the village of El-Gawly in Upper Egypt, and known as Mankarius while a monk at St...
survives, dated to 1827 wherein he complains of the behavior of the Abuna's behavior, sarcastically asking, "Was it because you hated Ethiopia that you sent him? Did you not know his conduct before, [and] so you sent him?"
Donald Crummey notes that "his fate, even the circumstances of his death, are mysterious." A contemporary account, the Church Missionary Society's Missionary Register for 1828 writes that he is said to be living "in Tigré: he is said to be in a state of perpetual intoxication." Mordechai Abir writes that Ras Yimam
Yimam of Yejju
Yimam of Yejju was a Ras of Begemder and Enderase of the Emperor of Ethiopia. He was the son of Gugsa of Yejju....
banished him to the monastery in Lake Tana
Lake Tana
Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia...
, where Abuna Qerellos remained until his death, although Abir also notes alternative accounts of Abuna Qerellos' death exist: "Another version ... claims that Kerilos was banished to Tigre where after meddling with politics he was killed by Seb'agadis in 1824, or was murdered as a result of a quarrel over some property with one of Seb'agadis's governors". Richard Pankhurst
Richard Pankhurst (academic)
Richard Keir Pethick Pankhurst OBE is a British academic with expertise in the study of Ethiopia.-Early life and education:...
simply states that he died at some point between 1828 to 1830, "apparently murdered."