Ark of the Covenant

[Xpycoctomos]

I was jsut told by some Orthodox (Chalcedonian) friends of mine that many believe that there is any ancient Coptic Church in... Ethiopia I think... that claims to hold the Ark of the Covenant. The reason this hasn't been confirmed is because they refuse to allow anyone to see it and in fact thre is only one person who can see it, some monk that is lives there and spends his entire life there, guarding it adn then when he dies another monk takes over. According to my friends while, without seeing it, it can't be proven to the world that they have it, a lot research tends to point towards the fact that the claim may very well be true.

I'm sorry if I've messed up any details. Really I just knwo that there is some Non-Calcedonian Church that claims to have the Ark of the Covenant and that this claim is not as far-fetched as it may seem at first. Does anyone here have any info on this? Thanks in advanced!

God bless,

John

[CopticGirl]

Hi John,

I never heard this before, do you have any more information on it?

God Bless.

[Rilian]

It's in a church in Axum, Ethiopia.

[CopticGirl]

So exactly what proof do they have that it is really the ark of the covenant? Where/when did they find it? And why isn't anyone allowed to see it?

God Bless

[Verushka]

Good question, why would it be so secret?! At least very imagination provoking indeed :yum:

[Rilian]

Here's (http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20021029-100001-6334r) a news story and here's (http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/reading/St.Pachomius/Xtabot.html) some links.

All knew about before was that it was in a church in Axum and that a single monk guards it.

[Xpycoctomos]

"Why can't anyone see it?"

I think it is because the OT says that no man should touch it unworthily lest he should die. Notice that only this monk, from what i understand, can guard it. I'm not even sure if he touches it. I'm sure though that he dedicates himself to prayer.

Thanks for the info Rilian!

John

[Epiphanygirl]

I've seen a few shows on T.V about this. One on PBS, the other was on the History Channel.
I thought it was facinating to say the least. They followed the route the the Ark (supposedly) had taken, found evidence at sites along the way. It also showed monks/priests carrying a replica of the Ark in a procession in the village.
As stated in previous posts, they only showed the outside of the temple which was guarded.

[CopticGirl]

I was told by someone that the ark is no longer considered to be on earth. yet was taken to Heaven. Has anyone heard this, or have more info on it?

[Alem2000]

From what I understand the Ark of the Covanent would come out once a year carried on the head of the monk who gaurds it. This stopped around the 1930's b/c of unrest and the political climate of Ethiopia. During battles with nations that wanted to take over Ethiopia(Ottoman Turks,Italians,Britian) the Ark of the Covanent would be carried to the battle and that is what kept Ethiopia free from foregin rule.

[SevenAngels]

CotpicGirl-

I think where many people get that the Ark is no longer on the earth is a passage from Revelation:

Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

According to John, he saw it after the seventh angel sounded his trumpet.

SevenAngels

[icxn]

I was told by someone that the ark is no longer considered to be on earth. yet was taken to Heaven. Has anyone heard this, or have more info on it?
Hehe... This is true for the true ark, that is, what the ark typified and whom you depict in your avatar... ;)

icxn

[Globalnomad]

The belief about the Ark of the Covenant being kept in a church in Lalibela is an old traditional belief in the Ethiopian Coptic Church. I heard it over and over again, many years ago, from Ethiopian Orthodox friends. I don't think, though, that the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church (which had some formal authority over the Ethiopian Church until sometime in the 20th century, when they agreed to split into two independent patriarchates) has ever confirmed (read: believed) it. Anyone know?

[God_fearer]

Wow! The folks in this thread will definitely want to check out Brother Hayden's interview,
and answer the questions about the ark in Axum, Ethiopia.

It's over on the following thread ...
http://www.christianforums.com/t1465422-read-enjoy-and-gain-more-than-100-blessings-.html

Tha thread details an interview with Brother Hayden,
a missionary to Ethiopia, and in his interview,
he is asked about the ark in Axum ...

[God_fearer]

Bump, for the Orthodox Churches to
go read Brother Hayden's interview (http://www.completelycalm.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=88) ...

What do you think about the interview?

[CopticGirl]

Personally, I don't trust the guy. A lot of what he said sounds like lies to me.

God Bless.

[Globalnomad]

Why, CopticGirl?

[CopticGirl]

Why?

Because he's saying that the people church beats and martyrs people who read the bible. I'm sorry that's just hard for me to believe.

And they are saying no one understands the services.

If I'm not mistaken the services are done in Ge'ez, Amharic and Coptic. So first off I know enough Coptic to understand the service in my church. So they can learn Coptic--not hard. And their language is Ge'ez and Amharic.

Another thing. It's one thing if this article is written by someone who is an active member of the church, but this guy left the church so it is clear that he disagrees with it, and for all I know is misrepresenting it.

Also, this guy claims that Mary is worshipped more than Christ. I mean come on, give me a break! The Ethiopian Church, used to be under the jurisdiction of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and I know that the Coptic Orthodox Church does not worship Mary. So, when they were given their own Patriarch they either fell apart and this guy is correct, or they continued to practice and worship the same way my church does and this guy is a liar. This site here explains their doctrines, please feel free to read it. http://www.prairienet.org/~dxmoges/eotc.htm They recite and follow many of the same doctrines that the other EO OO and Catholic Churches do.

Who knows, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe someone who is Ethiopian Orthodox can tell me if I'm right or wrong.

But all I know is, I don't believe him.

God Bless.

[tunguska]

does the bible not refer to the capture of the ark by romans after one of the initial battles? the israelites carried it into battle to ensure victory, it didnt work. josephus the historian refers to this, but noone knows what happened to it after that. does anyone know anything about that?