Selected Speeches Of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I
CHAPTER XVI
RELIGION
Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia and "Defender of the Faith" has, during his long and beneficent reign in every way buttressed Ethiopia's centuries-old Christian religion. His solicitude for the Ethiopian Church has never been abated. The most significant contribution in this phase of the nation's culture has been the successful conclusion of the long-drawn-out demand of the Ethiopian Church for its independence from the Alexandrian Cathedral. This was achieved during His Imperial Majesty's reign and through his wise intervention. Today the Ethiopian Church is autocephalous without any rupture in the spiritual relations with the mother Church.
Though a devout Christian, His Majesty the Emperor has fostered and encouraged religious tolerance throughout his long reign. In his own words: "Religion is personal; the state is for all." In Ethiopia, under his forthright leadership, freedom of conscience is guaranteed to all.
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Emperor Haile Sellassie First Theocracy Reign
Order of the Nyahbinghi
September 13, 2017