Chronological overview of Wolde Sellasie’s life and ministry
Wolde Sellasie Kenfu [ወልደ ሥላሴ ክንፉ] was born in the Semien area in 1841. From 1855 to 1860, he studied at the school for debteras at Gondar.
1860-61: Wolde Sellasie became a priest and accompanied Emperor Tewodros II on his journeys, carrying the imperial tabot. He ran away in 1861 [according to Smidt, Before Eritrea, p. 11, “seemingly due to theological doubts”].
1862ff: Since he ran out of money on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Wolde Selassie settled in Hamasen and taught at the local Province Training Centre for priests and teachers.
1866ff: Amharic Bibles sent by Martin Flad and deposited at the Training Centre. Some students read the Bibles in secret. Wolde Selassie joined the readers. Beginning of a revival at the Centre.
1869: Wolde Selassie Kenfu established contact with St. Chrischona missionaries.
1871-72: Wolde Sellasie met Bishop Gobat in Jerusalem and stayed for one year at the Bishop’s school (receiving instruction and supervising others).
May 1872: Wolde Sellasie arrived with Mr Jäger (Spittler’s right-hand man) in Basel and began his studies at St. Chrischona.
February 1873 (- _ _ _): Wolde Sellasie went to Korntal and helped Dr Krapf with the revision of the Amharic translation of the Bible. Towards the end of 1873, Wolde Sellasie helped Dr E. Trumpp in Tübingen as an informant for his study on the accent in Ge’ez.
Spring 1874: Sent by St. Chrischona Pilgrimage Mission, Wolde Sellasie returned to Hamasen to work as an evangelist. He assisted members of the revival movement who had come under pressure of the governor of the Hamasen Province and the Orthodox clergy.
Protected by General John Kirkham, Wolde Sellasie and his followers built a station at Ginda. At the end of 1875, Wolde Sellasie arranged contacts with Agaw speakers for Prof Reinish in Massawa.
In 1876, a civil war broke out in Hamasen. Wolde Sellasie was killed in the Tse’azzega massacre in July 1876.
Picture
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[Most pictures of St. Chrischona students from Abyssinia were taken before Wolde Sellasie arrived in Switzerland in May 1872]
Further reading
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