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WE have heard that about this period some of the most distant of the
nations that we call Indians, to whom the preaching of Bartholomew
was unknown, shared in our doctrine, through Frumentius, who became
a priest and teacher of the sacred learning among them. But in order
that we may know, even by the marvel of what happened in India, that
the doctrine of the Christians ought to be received as a system not
from man, as it seems a tissue of miracles to some, it is necessary to
relate the reason for the ordination of Frumentius. It was as
follows: The most celebrated philosophers among the Greeks explored
unknown cities and regions. Plato, the friend of Socrates, dwelt
for a time among the Egyptians, in order to acquaint himself with
their manners and customs. He likewise sailed to Sicily for the sight
of its craters, whence, as from a fountain, spontaneously issued
streams of fire, which frequently overflowing, rushed like a river and
consumed the neighboring regions, so that even yet many fields appear
burnt and cannot be sown or planted with trees, just as they narrate
about the land of Sodom. These craters were likewise explored by
Empedocles, a man highly celebrated for philosophy among the Greeks,
and who has expounded his knowledge in heroic verse. He set out to
investigate this fiery eruption, when either because he thought such a
mode of death preferable to any other, or because, to speak more
truthfully, he perhaps knew not wherefore he should seek to terminate
his life in this manner, he leaped into the fire and perished.
Democritus of Coos explored many cities and climates and nations, and
he says concerning himself that eighty years of his life were spent in
traveling through foreign lands. Besides these philosophers,
thousands of wise men among the Greeks, ancient and modern, devoted
themselves to this travel. In emulation, Meropius, a philosopher of
Tyre in Phoenicia, journeyed as far as India. They say he was
accompanied by two youths, named Frumentius and Edesius; they were
his relatives; he conducted their rhetorical training, and educated
them liberally. After exploring India as much as possible, he set
out for home, and embarked in a vessel which was on the point of
sailing for Egypt. It happened that, from want of water or some
other necessary, the vessel was obliged to stop at some port, and the
Indians rushed upon it and murdered all, Meropius included. These
Indians had just thrown off their alliance with the Romans; they took
the boys as living captives, because they pitied their youth, and
conducted them to their king. He appointed the younger one his
cup-bearer; the older, Frumentius, he put over his house and made
him administrator of his treasures; for he perceived that he was
intelligent and very capable in business. These youths served the king
usefully and faithfully during a long course of years, and when he felt
his end approaching, his son and wife surviving, he rewarded the
good-will of the servants with liberty, and permitted them to go where
they pleased. They were anxious to return to Tyre, where their
relatives resided; but the king's son being a minor, his mother
besought them to remain for a little while and take charge of public
affairs, until her son reached the years of manhood. They yielded to
her entreaties, and directed the affairs of the kingdom and of the
government of the Indies. Frumentius, by some Divine impulse,
perhaps because God moved him spontaneously, inquired whether there
were any Christians in India, or Romans among the merchants, who
had sailed thither. Having succeeded in finding the objects of his
inquiry, he summoned them into his presence, treated them with love
and friendliness, and convened them for prayer, and the assembly was
conducted after the Roman usage; and when he had built houses of
prayer, he encouraged them to honor God continually.
When the king's son attained the age of manhood, Frumentius and
Edesius besought him and the queen, and not without difficulty
persuaded the rulers to be separated from themselves, and having parted
as friends, they went back as Roman subjects. Edesius went to Tyre
to see his relatives, and was soon after advanced to the dignity of
presbyter. Frumentius, however, instead of returning to Phoenicia,
repaired to Alexandria; for with him patriotism and filial piety were
subordinate to religious zeal. He conferred with Athanasius, the
head of the Alexandrian Church, described to him the state of affairs
in India, and the necessity of appointing a bishop over the
Christians located in that country. Athanasius assembled the endemic
priests, and consulted with them on the subject; and he ordained
Frumentius bishop of India, since he was peculiarly qualified and apt
to do much service among those among whom he was the first to manifest
the name of Christian, and the seed of the participation in the
doctrine was sown. Frumentius, therefore, returned to India, and,
it is said, discharged the priestly functions so admirably that he
became an object of universal admiration, and was revered as no less
than an apostle. God highly honored him, enabling him to perform many
wonderful cures, and to work signs and wonders.Such was the origin of
the Indian priesthood.
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