Ethiopia: Ark of Covenant Reported Stolen by Church Authorities
- See more at: http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/ethiopia-ark-of-covenant-reported-stolen-by-church-authorities/#sthash.TLAeXWEV.dpuf
Axum| The Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox
Tewahedo Church, His Holiness Abune Mathias, announced this morning that
the most prized biblical treasure in the world, the Ark of Covenant, was
stolen last night from the catacombs of the Church of Our
Lady Mary of Zion. The guardians of the artefact were allegedly put to
sleep through the use of chemical weapons, before the robbers entered the crypt
and stole the precious Holy item.
The criminal operation was reportedly executed
by a team of 12 to 16 highly-trained professionals who travelled aboard
two black military helicopters. They landed less than 500 meters away from
their objective after allegedly arriving from the East. The men were dressed
in black military-style uniforms and seemed to function as a well coordinated
army unit. They were equipped with night-vision equipment and armed with
high caliber weapons, giving them an incredible advantage over the local
security forces.
The
protection of the Ark was left to a group untrained volunteers with AK-47s. The
Church did not see any need for more security as the Ark was expected to
protect itself from people with impure intentions.
The 11 guards and armed volunteers
present on the site to defend the Ark were neutralized by the
thieves, using some high technology grenades that released a
rare opium-based soporific gas. The robbers then went into
strenuous labor, using jackhammers and explosives to enlarge the corridors
in various locations inside the catacombs leading to the
Ark, in order to be able to remove the large chest from its underground vault.
The entire operation was over in less than an hour,
an incredibly short time considering the number of obstacles that had to be
overcome. This amazing efficiency suggests that the thieves had repeated
the operation and had carefully prepared their crime.
Few signs
of the crime were visible this morning on the site, but a lot of damage was
reported inside the catacombs under the building.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church claims to
possess the Ark of the Covenant in a chapel in the small town of Axum, in their
country’s northern Highlands. It arrived nearly 3,000 years ago, they say, and
has been guarded by a succession of virgin monks who, once anointed, are
forbidden to set foot outside the chapel grounds until they die. No one except
the Guardians are ever allowed to see the Ark, not even the Patriarch of the
Church.
The story
is told in the Kebra Negast (in Ge’ez language, Glory of
the Kings), Ethiopia’s chronicle of its royal line: the Queen of Sheba, one
of its first rulers, traveled to Jerusalem to benefit from King
Solomon’s wisdom; on her way home, she bore Solomon’s son, Menelik. A few
years later, Menelik went to visit his father, and on his return journey
was accompanied by the firstborn sons of some Israelite nobles—who, unbeknown
to him, stole the ark and carried it with them to Ethiopia.
When
Menelik learned of the theft, he reasoned that since the ark’s frightful powers
hadn’t destroyed his retinue, it must be God’s will that it remain with him.
It was then presumably kept in the islands of Lake Tana for
about four hundred years and finally taken to Axum, where it was kept safe for
more than two thousand years.
The
disappearance of the Ark is certainly dramatic news for the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church, as much of its prestige came from the possession of the relic
and many of its rituals were centered on it. His Holiness Abune
Mathias was visibly emotional when he made the announcement many of the
journalists and faithfuls present for the press conference, burst into
tears when they heard the news.
- See
more at:
http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/ethiopia-ark-of-covenant-reported-stolen-by-church-authorities/#sthash.TLAeXWEV.dpuf
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