IES Inaugurates a New Book: “A Fascist Legacy: …”
Addis Ababa University (AAU) Institute of Ethiopian Studies (IES) in collaboration with Society of Friends of The Institute of Ethiopian Studies (SOFIES) organized an event to inaugurate a new book written by Ian Campbell, entitled “A Fascist Legacy: Exploring the Impact of the Italian Invasion on the Ethiopian Orthodox Church” held at Ras Mekonnen Hall on the 25th of February 2022.
Alula Pankhurst (PhD), Chairperson for SOFIES Event Organizing Taskforce, introduced the Author, Ian Campbell, and the activity of publishing his findings in several areas of Ethiopian cultural history including Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church’s Architecture and Iconography over the last 30 years.
According to Dr. Alula, including his first book “The Plot to Kill Graziani”, which unraveled the history behind the attack on Marshal Grazani that triggered the massacre of Addis Ababa in 1937, Campbell produced “The Massacre of Debre Libanos” and “The Massacre of Addis Ababa” that detail the crime Italy did against Ethiopia.
Ian Campbell (Author) presented his new book “A Fascist Legacy: …,” exploring the invader’s brutal crime committed on the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church (EOTC); over 50 churches and monasteries were destroyed as well as their clergies and monks slaughtered by the Italian troops.
The new book also details about the strong and smooth relationship between Ethiopian Orthodox Twahido and Italian Catholic Churches up to the 19th century, though the relations loosen due to the Vatican Clergy sided to the invading Italian forces in the 20th century, the Author stated.
Abune Aregawi (PhD), Director for External Relations and Public Relations of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church (EOTC), made remarks appreciating the Author for his allover efforts to uncover the untold history of the Fascist Italian invaders’ crime done over Ethiopians.
“The EOTC’s role during the two Italian invasions towards Ethiopia was very prominent. The Church fully participated in safeguarding the independence and freedom of the people by mobilizing all its clergies, officials of the arc bishops, heads of great monasteries and other important religious dignitaries,” Dr. Abune Aregawi emphasized.
Some participants of the event stated that a number of priceless properties of the EOTC were robbed and destroyed; monks and clergies with their irreversible knowledge were slaughtered; treasuries were purposely looted and transported to Europe and another parts the world. “All the looted belongings of the Church have to be returned home,” they added.
Source: Addis Ababa University