What? The Oldest
Christian Institution An Imperial Dynasty Older than the Christian
Church A Modern Antique African Liberation Celebration Launch of THE
MULTICULTURAL OUTREACH PROGRAM for Social Integration by St Mary's
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in a Taste of Ethiopia for African
Liberation in Tampa Florida with the Empress of Zion Tampa Chapter.
When: Saturday, May 23rd in Tampa,
Florida Who: Keynote Speaker His Imperial Highness: HIH Ermias
Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie,
President, Ethiopian Crown Council
Guest Speaker: Rev Dr.
Marcia O. Stewart, the Queen Mother MOSES, President, Empress
of Zion, Inc.
Introduction: An
enchanting evening filled with sacred music, ancient artifacts, royalty
and sons and daughters of Ethiopia, the Diaspora, the Christian Faith
and wider American populace. It was truly a sight to behold: the
exhibits of uniquely Ethiopian silver jewelry, clothing, books,
artifacts, coffee, spices, teff, beautiful and charming traditional
coffee pots. Then there was the mixing and mingling while full-joying a
glass of tej, the Ethiopian honey wine or sampling the sambusa
appetizer--and yet the program had not yet started.
THE PROGRAM
The
inner dinner hall was just as exotically decorated as the outer sanctum
with Ethiopian arts and culture when the traditional Ethiopian singers
and female drummer took the stage to open the dinner with the playing of
the Zema. The sacred music of Ethiopia’s chant tradition, was invented
by Saint Yared, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church saint whose feast
day is 11 Genbot (May 19). Born in the city of Axum, Saint Yared created
five volumes of chants linking the spiritual with the musical for church
services and celebrations after gaining musical insight from interaction
with three birds colored red, golden yellow and green, the color of the
ancient Ethiopian flag.
Ato Fassil, was the MC and
introduced and thanked Father Ed Henley of the St Mark Episcopal Church
for hosting the St. Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Church fund-raising and
launch of a Multi-Culrual Outreach Program. Father Henley relayed the
story of the events connecting him to Kes Berhanu, the Founder of the St
Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Church, a former young deacon under Emperor
Haile Selassie, who had been put on a death list by the former Mengistu
dergue socialist regime. Father Henley spoke lovingly of his long
friendship with Kes Berhanu before a Traditional Ethiopian ballad singer
sang and played the Masinko, a one-string Ethiopian violin. Guests were
also treated to Classical and Modern Ethiopian music while dining on
fine Ethiopian Cuisine.
His Imperial Highness HIH
Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, President, Ethiopian Crown
Council, was introduced and gave a short speech giving thanks for the
Honor of being present and the continuing support being given.
After
the Silent Auction, Kes Berhanu introduced Queen Mother MOSES as the
Reverend Dr. Marcia Stewart. The Queen Mother emphasized the importance
of the event on the eve of the 46th anniversary of the founding of the
Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now celebrated globally as Afrika
Day; the role of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie and the
unbroken dynasty of the Davidic-Solomonic Monarchy whose flag with the
Conquering Lion continue to be flown high globally by sons and daughters
of Rastafari. She also gave praises to the Most High and emphasized that
HIH Ermias and his twin sons were living proof that there shall never
fall short a King to sit on the Ancient Davidic Throne of Solomon and
His Greater Grand Son Haile Selassie I!
Everyone left with a
spiritual feeling of fulfillment, especially the members of the
Rastafari Faith, the Empress of Zion (EOZ) Secretariat and its Tampa
Chapter members who had the honor of being photographed with HIH Ermias
Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie (photos attached thanks to Sister Ahna,
EOZ Tampa Chapter). Many blessings is due to Sister Fikerte, EOZ Tampa
Chapter President for the continuing collaboration of EOZ and the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Jamaica and Tampa.
Submitted by:
Dr. Marcia o. Stewart, the
Queen Mother MOSES, CEO, President EOZ, Inc
