Apr 21, 2025

Conventional Wisdom Unravels as Ethiopian Deacons Speaking English

By Yared Haile-Meskel

I recently watched a fascinating discussion between Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle and Miheret, an Ethiopian Orthodox Church deacon and Harvard student. What started as a 10-minute exchange between the deacon and Protestant preachers quickly went viral.

Most of the YouTube produced on the topic say. One protestant Pastor call is “Just embarrassing”, the other said “Harvard Oxford Student Humiliate Cliffe”, another Catholic priest said this is a total intellectual collapse.

The debate focused on the biblical significance of communion, drawing from John 6:53-56, where Jesus emphasizes the necessity of partaking in His body and blood for salvation: ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Stwart believes that is symbolic and not necessarily important for salvation. Cliffe things salvation is one-time declaration.

The Overwhelming Verdict

Across 100+ YouTube videos, TikTok clips, and social media discussions, the consensus is clear: Deacon Miheret was right on point, while the well-known Protestant preachers appeared uncertain about biblical teachings on communion.

What stood out was the strong support from Oriental and Eastern Orthodox followers, who backed Miheret and pointed out the theological errors made by the Protestant preachers. Many Catholic Priests and scholars reinforced Miheret’s argument, which was expected. However, the real surprise came from Protestant teachers who expressed frustration with modern Protestantism, criticizing its lack of deep scriptural understanding and historical interpretation.

Ethiopia’s Hidden Biblical Mysteries

Ethiopia holds many historical and theological secrets, which I will list out at the end of this article. One example is the world begin to know Ethiopia’s 81-book Bible, which differs from the Catholic canon of 73 books and 66 for Protestant.

The Catholic expanded canon traces back to the 15th century, when an Ethiopian monk named Prist Tesfa Seyon, an Orthodox Scholar from Debere Libanos monastery, Central Ethiopia traveled to Rome. His deep scriptural knowledge made him a key figure in Catholic theological defense during the Martin Luther rebellion. During this period, some Ethiopian Orthodox Church canonical texts were translated and accepted into Catholic bible.

Aba Tesfa Seyon’s legacy remains visible today—his portrait is displayed in an Italian state church, painted by a prominent artist An Ethiopian Scholar in Tridentine Rome: Tasfa Seyon and the …]( https://www.academia.edu/45584375/An_Ethiopian_Scholar_in_Tridentine_Rome_Tasfa_Seyon_and_the_Birth_of_Orientalism ).

The Rift Between Ethiopian Orthodoxy and Catholicism

Italy at the time had the largest black scholars in Rome because the Presence of the Ethiopian Orthodox Monastery in Vatican, where it was in the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition to have pilgrimage to Jerusalem and St. Peter’s Rome.

Despite early theological exchanges, the collaboration between the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Catholic Church came to an end before most of the books were translated. The turning point came when Catholic missionaries converted the Ethiopian king and attempted to impose Catholicism by force, which led to civil war and eventually resulted in the king abdicating his power to his son to restore the Orthodox faith. Then Ethiopia once again shut it’s door and kept it’s mysteries from the world.

Since then, interactions between the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Vatican have been marked by conflict, notably during:

-The Battle of Adwa (1896) where Ethiopia defeated Italian forces.

– Mussolini’s invasion (1935) – Another attempt at Italian control over Ethiopia, where 900,000 died and many monasteries destroyed with tacit approval of the Vatican. Recently published book by Campbell, Ian. Holy War: The Untold Story of Catholic Italy’s Crusade Against the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. London: Hurst & Company, 2021.

Ethiopian Orthodoxy’s Apostolic Lineage

Despite these conflicts, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church remains deeply rooted in early Christianity. It follows the teachings of Mark the Apostle, and its patriarchal succession remains unbroken from Mark’s time in Alexandria to the present day the Ethiopian Patriarch. Catholic also follow the hierarchy of St. Peter.

The Mysteries of Ethiopia to be Discovered.

Many were impressed by Deacon Miheret, who grew up in the USA yet remained deeply rooted in Ethiopian Orthodox teachings, influenced by his father, a priest. However, what Miheret revealed is just the tip of the iceberg.

If other faiths dedicate time and attention to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, they will uncover remarkable historical and theological insights.

Ethiopians were present in Jerusalem during the time of Christ, and the first Ethiopian to embrace Christianity was the Ethiopian eunuch as described in Act 8. The Ethiopian Eunuch is known in Ethiopia as Simeon Bachos or Bachos the Eunuch, whose evangelical teachings are documented in the Ethiopian Orthodox manuscripts.

Many scholars mistakenly associate Ethiopia’s adoption of Christianity in 330 CE with its official recognition as a state religion and the minting of coins bearing the cross at that time. However, Ethiopian Christianity traces its origins directly to the teachings of Jesus’ Apostles as shown in Act 8.

As Ethiopia opens up to the world and more young Ethiopians speak English, global audiences will begin to uncover its hidden Christian mysteries, including:

1. Ethiopia’s 81-Book Bible

Ethiopia’s 81-book canon fills gaps left by the 66-book Bible, including details about Cain’s marriage, residence, and death. Some theologians argue that Cain killed Abel, fled, and married, implying multiple creations due to the Bible’s silence on his spouse. However, the Book of Kufale clarifies that Cain married his sister, affirming that all humanity descends from Adam’s family rather than separate origins.
Similarly, the 66-book and 73-book Bibles state that Judas sold Christ for 30 pieces of silver and that the money was later given to the rabbis, who used it to buy a burial land, fulfilling prophecy. However, the exact prophecy referenced is not found in the 66-book or 73-book Bibles—raising questions that Ethiopia’s extended biblical tradition may answer.
A complete Book of Enoch, which was brought to Europe from Ethiopia by James Bruce in the 17th century, has since been translated into English. Today, YouTube is filled with discussions suggesting that established European churches conspired to suppress its teachings, burying the truth from the world. However, instead of being primarily regarded as a spiritual text, it is increasingly becoming the subject of conspiracy theories.

2. Ethiopia has around 300,000 religious manuscripts. Why Ethiopians Orthodox Tewahedo Church were so much into collecting, translating and writing manuscripts from Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, Greek and other place is to translate it to the Ethiopian Church language Geez. Prof. Richard Pankhurst testify that the rest of the world, Vatican included hasn’t 10% the Ethiopian collection. What else secrete these books have? Till someone read the Geez language, which is not and translate them to English no body knows. Ethiopia is the only country that claim to have a record of Jesus Christ between a Childhood to year 30. The 66 books tell us Jesus as a baby, then at age of 12 and finally reveal himself at the age of 30. Those missing years shouldn’t be an interest for Christians.

3. The Ark of the Covenant and its future significance. Is it “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. Zephaniah 3:10 (KJV)?

4. How come that the Ethiopia Tewahedo Orthodox Church has the Biography of Adam (Gedle Adam). Will it pre-date the Book of Enoc? Or a script produced retrospectively?

5. The birth-to-death accounts of the 12 Apostles and 72 followers (Gedele Hawaryat). Many know the story of St. Peter but what about the others? The book shows all of them were martyred following the footstep of Christ.

6. Ethiopia’s possession of a piece of the True Cross. The Ethiopian celebration of Meskel on end of September.

7. What is the role of Ethiopia in God’s plan. Why God compared Ethiopia with Israel in Amos 9:7, which states: “Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the LORD. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?” (KJV)

8. Who are the black Jews, what is the Ethiopia’s relationship with Israel. One school of thought suggests that Ethiopia was chosen as a custodian of Israel’s sacred heritage, safeguarding these treasures until the appointed time for their revelation. Some even say Ethiopia is the only unconquered country in 3000 years of history, not by Babylon, Alexander the Great, Rome, Islam, Ottoman and Western Imperialism. Is it because Ethiopians are smart or a divine protection?

9. The Solomonic Dynasty & Ethiopia’s Biblical Role
Ethiopia’s Solomonic dynasty lasted for centuries but ended after the re-establishment of Israel as a nation. Could this be linked to God’s promise to 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (KJV): “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom

Conclusion

As Ethiopia integrates further with the world and more Ethiopians speak English, many divine mysteries will be revealed. The world is only beginning to understand Ethiopia’s deep biblical significance.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=cliffe+knechtle+vs.+harvard+orthodox+student&FORM=HDRSC4

https://youtu.be/Ky9A1ZDvloY?si=ZQtIXZcO5XNEV-dX
Protestant reply

✓ [Harvard Orthodox Student vs. Cliffe Knechtle]
✓ [Cliffe & Stuart Knechtle vs. Ethiopian Orthodox Deacon Mihret Melaku]

✓ [Harvard Orthodox Christian vs. Stuart and Cliff Knechtle: Interview with Deacon Mihret]
✓ [Orthodox Harvard Student Confronts Cliffe And Stuart On The Correct Church]

✓ [Harvard Student (Oriental Orthodox) RESPONDS after DEBATE with Stuart and Cliffe Knechtle]( )
✓ [Stuart Knechtle vs Orthodox Harvard Student: Breaking Down the Viral Debate!]
✓ [Harvard Orthodox Student (Ethiopian Deacon) Refutes Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle: Full Debate]
✓ [Harvard Orthodox Student RESPONDS After His Debate with Cliffe Knechtle]
✓ [Orthodox Harvard Student Confronts Cliffe And Stuart On The Correct Church]
✓ [Harvard Student (Oriental Orthodox) RESPONDS after DEBATE with Stuart and Cliffe Knechtle]
✓ [Stuart Knechtle vs Orthodox Harvard Student: Breaking Down the Viral Debate!]
✓ [FULL DEBATE: Harvard Orthodox Student SLAMS Cliffe & Stuart Knechtle!]
✓ [Harvard Orthodox Student (Ethiopian Deacon) Refutes Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle: Full Debate]