The
head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Abuna Pauolos, is set to unveil the Ark
of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant has been in the guardianship of the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church in a chapel in the Church of Our Lady, Mary of Zion.
But with many religious icons and relics the Ark has been claimed by a number of
people over the years, some credible and many not so believable. There is no reason I know of to doubt the authenticity of the Ark that’s with the Patriarch.
We don’t hear
much of the Ark of Covenant today except for intro Scripture classes; however,
it should be noted that the Ark is a unit of learning in the Catechesis of the
Good Shepherd (a catechetical program for little people developed around a
Montessori method). The relevance of the Ark, you will remember, is that it was
God’s command that the Ark be built to contain the tablets of the Decalogue
(the 10 Commandment), Aaron’s rod and manna. On the theological level the Ark
is emblematic of the Covenant God had with His people (Israel). Today, a
theology of Covenant continues but not in tablets or an Ark but in a
Person–Jesus Christ. Catholics honor and follow the 10 Commandments; we honor the
Ark but we worship neither. We adore, worship, and give glory to a God who
became a flesh and blood person, a man in all things like you and me except
sin; the Son of God who opened the doors of salvation for us. Catholics
believe, therefore, our salvation is not in the Commandments but from Christ
who lived, died, and resurrected. As I mentioned the Commandments are followed
and we revere the Ark so long as we recognize that they point to their fulfillment in Jesus. So learn about the Ark and pass this theology onto your
friends and family.
Who cares about a fake ‘Ark of the Covenant.’ Stephan Huller has an academic article coming up which proves that this:
http://therealmessiahbook.blogspot.com/
is the original Episcopal throne of Alexandria, mentioned in the Acts of Peter the Patriarch, Origen, Clement and other sources and dated to the first century.
I read the book. I loved it but I want to know what everyone else thinks? I think its very important but I am not an expert.
His blog with additional information is
http://www.stephanhuller.blogspot.com.
Maybe you can tell me if this for real.
I used to believe in the Ark in Ethiopia until EWTN covered Pope Benedict’s Holy Land trip and commented that the Ark is within a mountain in the Holy Land quoting 2 Maccabees 2:1-8. I assume that what’s mentioned hasn’t yet occurred. So Ethiopia I must conclude cannot have the Ark. Quite frankly this makes me careful about anything non-catholic in these types of things.
Well, we shall just have to wait and see. Stranger things have been discovered. In any event, some respect is due to the ancient and long-suffering Ethiopian Church, and it is rather amazing that the Patriarch is willing to let the “ark” be seen at all: heretofore, only one monk at a time – specially appointed – has been allowed to see and guard it until his death. No doubt, whatever it is, it will be an interesting artifact.
We should, however, remember that for Christians, the Ark is a “type” of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, the true and living Ark of the Covenant and Mercy Seat, Throne of Wisdom, and the One who contained the uncontainable God within her womb. She has already been revealed to us, and yet many persist in unbelief. So, even if the original wooden Ark of the Covenant were to be revealed, it is of less significance and, therefore, will not by itself overcome the unbelief of those who do not have “eyes to see.”