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General article
History & Councils

Yohannes I of Ethiopia

Yohannes I was a ninth-century metropolitan of Ethiopia, appointed by Patriarch Jacob of Alexandria, whose episcopate included expulsion, restoration, and a dispute over circumcision.[^1][^2][^5]

Also known as: Yohannes I · Abuna Yohannes I

Published 10/1/2026Updated 2 revisionsPage history

Appointment and historical sources

Yohannes I flourished in the second quarter of the ninth century and is the first metropolitan of Ethiopia whose name is recorded after Salama I (Frumentius), the evangelist of Ethiopia. The History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria, identified by the supplied account as the only source mentioning him, states that Patriarch Jacob (819–830) appointed him and that he served during the patriarchates of Simon II (830) and Yusab I (831–849).1

Expulsion and restoration

During Yusab I’s patriarchate, the Ethiopian queen expelled Yohannes while the king was away leading his troops in battle. Neither ruler is named in the Arabic version of the History of the Patriarchs. Yohannes returned to Egypt and withdrew to Dayr al-Baramus; another prelate was selected and appointed in Ethiopia, an appointment the account describes as contrary to canon law.2

The narrative relates that disasters, epidemics, and military defeats subsequently prompted the king to renew his allegiance to Alexandria and request Yohannes’s return. Accompanied by several fellow clergymen, Yohannes returned to Ethiopia and resumed his episcopal office; the narrative associates his restoration with renewed prosperity.34

Dispute over circumcision

In 838, certain Ethiopian factions claimed that Yohannes was uncircumcised and demanded that he undergo circumcision or return to exile in Egypt. An examination established that he was already circumcised, an outcome treated as miraculous in the History of the Patriarchs.5

A possible historical explanation instead relates the episode to the spread of circumcision among Copts after the Arab conquest of Egypt and to its longstanding practice in Ethiopia. This is presented as an interpretation rather than an established explanation of the event.6

Succession

Yohannes’s immediate successor is unknown. The next recorded holder of the office is Abuna Petros I in the tenth century.7

References

Sources

  1. 1.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 3 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 828)
    YOHANNES I (fl. second quarter ninth century) This is the first metropolitan whose name is recorded after that of Salama I (Frumentius), evangelist of Ethiopia. According to the HISTORY OF THE PATRIARCHS OF ALEXANDRIA, the only source to mention him, Yohannes I was named to this position by Patriarch Jacob (819-830) and served during the patriarchates of SIMON II (830) and YUSAB I (831-849).
  2. 2.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 3 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 828)
    During the latter period, Yohannes I was obliged to leave Ethiopia and return to Egypt, where he withdrew to DAYR AL-BARAMUS. It was the queen of Ethiopia who expelled him, and in order to do so, she had had to wait for the king to absent himself from the court, on this occasion to lead his troops into battle. (The names of the king and queen are not mentioned in the Arabic version of the History of the Patriarchs.) With Yohannes out of the country, another prelate, chosen and appointed in Ethiopia against all canon law, replaced him.
  3. 3.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 3 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 828)
    Ethiopia then suffered many disasters, epidemics, and military defeats, which induced the Ethiopian sovereign to write to Patriarch Yusab, renewing his allegiance to Alexandria and requesting the return of Yohannes to his country. Thereupon, Yohannes left his retreat in the desert, and in the company of a few fellow clergymen,
  4. 4.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 3 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 829)
    returned to Ethiopia and reoccupied his episcopal throne. Prosperity then reigned anew in the land.
  5. 5.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 3 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 829)
    Later, however, Yohannes had to face another difficulty. In 838, certain Ethiopian factions claimed that the bishop was uncircumcised and insisted that he submit to this operation or be banished again to Egypt. But, upon examining him, they discovered that he had already been circumcised. The History of the Patriarchs treats this event as a miracle.
  6. 6.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 3 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 829)
    However, it may rather be explained by the progressive spread of circumcision among the Copts after the ARAB CONQUEST OF EGYPT and by the fact that in Ethiopia this practice had been followed since the most ancient times, even before the introduction of Christianity.
  7. 7.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 3 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 829)
    The immediate successor to Yohannes I remains unknown. The next person listed as holding this office is Abuna Petros I in the tenth century.

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This article was drafted from the sources listed above with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor before publication.