/ 22 July 2001

ETHIOPIAN CHURCH RECOVERS ARTEFACTS

A STOLEN 800-year-old Ethiopian cross and a treasured book have been restored to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church after being found in France. The two treasured artefacts were handed over to the priests of their churches at a ceremony on Thursday presided over by the Orthodox patriarch, Abouna Paulos, and attended by Culture Minister Woldemichael Chamo. The cross was stolen in 1981 from the Saint George of Debre Dimah church in the Godjam region of the northwestern Amhara territory, while the book, a century old, was taken from the church in the capital of Saint Raguel of Entoto. – AFP

Friday 20, 2001