The influence† of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in social, economic, and political aspects: a historical perspective

Abstract

The objective of this research is to reconstruct the influence of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in social, economic, and political aspects from ancient times to the present. The data is obtained through document analysis and analyzed by the qualitative content analysis method. The result of the study reveals that the church has been influential from ancient times to the present. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has exerted a continuous and influential role in Ethiopian society, acting as a pillar of religious, cultural, and national identity. It has preserved traditions, promoted moral values, and contributed to social cohesion. The church has adapted economically over time, engaging in economic activities and charitable work. Politically, it has maintained close ties with political power, providing legitimacy to rulers and advocating for social justice and democratic values. Its influence is continued and changed between the indicated periods for different reasons. However, the church tried to solve the problem and continue its influence until the present.

Keywords

• Influence
• Orthodox Church
• ancient to present
• social
• Ethiopia
• Samuel Adu-Gyamfi, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology College of Arts and Social Science, Ghana