CHAPTER 12

THE LIGHT WAS DIMMING as they dismounted in front of the holiest church in Ethiopia. Ceseli had already read that the “new” St. Mary of Zion was a Portuguese style structure, with some fragments of the earlier Byzantine church set into the walls. It had a flat top and battlements on a little bell tower. The church had been built on a raised platform above the ancient temple that existed in the days of sun worship.

The few stones still in place were drafted stones with chiseled edges put together without mortar. Inside, the church had one large vestibule and a sanctuary known as the Holy of Holies. It was this sacred chapel that contained the Ark of the Covenant.

“What does your bible say about this?” Standish asked as they studied the ruins.

“A Portuguese chaplain, Francisco Alvarez, was here in 1520. He was the first European to come to Ethiopia and he left very detailed accounts. He said that King Ezana built the church when the Axumite kingdom converted to Christianity in the fourth century AD. Parts of it have been destroyed and rebuilt several times. The first time was by order of Queen Yodit Gudit in the tenth century. Then again in the sixteenth century by Muslims who were trying to conquer the whole area from the coast up. The most powerful of them was Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi. He was a warlord and his battle name, Gragn, meant left-handed.”

“But he didn’t succeed.”

“No. But they did drive the Portuguese out, and with them all their efforts to convert the Ethiopians to the Roman Catholic Church.”

“Do you get the idea that history is about to repeat itself?” Standish asked.

“How do you mean?”

“Don’t you think Mussolini has the Pope’s blessing? It would give him a holy mission. Bringing the Catholic Church to Ethiopia.”

“You think that’s his plan?”

“It would be mine,” Standish said as he looked at the church. “It’s where the Ark of the Covenant is supposed to be.” Standish rubbed his forehead, trying to reconcile his thoughts. “But if your story of the Queen of Sheba is correct, and if Solomon sired a son, and this son you call Menelik did steal the Ark of the Covenant and brought it to Ethiopia, then it must have been here well before the time of Christ.”

“Legend says it was kept protected in a monastery on an island on the east coast of Lake Tana. Then when King Ezana converted to Christianity, he sent for it. Now that we’re here, let’s go see where the Ark is supposed to be. Women aren’t allowed in the Holy of Holies so you need to take wonderful visual notes.”

On the doorstep of St. Mary of Zion was an ancient deacon, leaning on a prayer stick, his back almost parallel with the ground. He wore a black robe and had a long, straggling patriarchal beard. As they walked toward him, Ceseli was sure that the cloudy cataracts completely dimmed his sight. He turned hearing, but not seeing them approach. He held out his right hand and she noticed it was like a dried prune, and his grip was delicate as if he were offering a tiny bird.

The smile she gave him was in her voice and he reciprocated, his face creasing like precious papyrus. “Good day, Father, may peace be with you.”

“And with you, my daughter.” The eyes followed her words. “You have come to see the tabot? The Ark?”

“Father, I know I cannot enter this holy place,” Ceseli answered, “but my friend will go if he can. He has come from across the ocean to see the tabot.”

“He cannot see the tabot. No man can look at it. Only at the holy of the holies, where it resides.”

“Yes, father, we know. You alone among men can look upon it.”

“I am the Keeper of the Ark, but even I cannot look at the face of god, only at the container of his laws.”

Standish followed the priest who, although disfigured to such an extent, did not lose his noble bearing. While he was gone, Ceseli walked in the vestibule noting a huge collection of varied drums, banners, and crutches all given by the faithful worshippers who had been cured. She took several photos of the inscriptions carved into the stone.

Looking around, she found a comfortable spot on the wall of the enclosure and reread the entry she had made in her bible.

‘God himself inscribed the ten words of the law upon two tablets of stone. These were the Ten Commandments. Moses put the stone tablets into the Ark of the Covenant, that was a chest made of wood and gold. The Ark accompanied the Israelites during their wanderings in the wilderness and their conquest of the Promised Land. It brought them victories. King Solomon placed the Ark in the holy of holies of the temple he built in Jerusalem. The Ethiopians called the Ark a tabot. Really, it is an altar slab. In an Ethiopian church it is the tabota Zion, not the building itself, that is consecrated.’

Ceseli opened her bible and began to read the Kebra Nagast from where she had left off on the train. According to the story, Queen Makeda, also known as the Queen of Axum and of Sheba, had little experience in government when she became queen in the tenth century BC. One of her closest advisors suggested that she should travel to Jerusalem, where a famous King Solomon was known for his wisdom. Solomon was also a healer and Makeda had a clubfoot. So Makeda set out with seven hundred ninety-seven camels, mules, and donkeys laden with precious gifts. When she arrived, Solomon received her with great pomp for she was a beautiful queen. He agreed to let her learn as long as she paid her own way and took nothing without permission.

As it is said in the Book of Kings, Solomon was a lover of women and he married wives of’ Hebrews and the Egyptians, and women who were reported to be beautiful. He had four hundred wives and six hundred concubines. This he did not for the sake of fornication, but with the thought that perhaps God would give him male children from each one of these women and his sons would inherit the cities of the enemy and would destroy those who worshiped idols.

The queen stayed in Jerusalem and studied Solomon’s religion and his rule. When she was ready to leave, she sent a message to Solomon. Solomon answered inviting her to a banquet. When she accepted, Solomon rejoiced and ordered the royal table set according to the law of the kingdom. He spread near his place purple hangings and laid down carpets, he burned aromatic powders, sprinkled oil of myrrh, and scattered frankincense and other costly incense in all directions.

The queen came and passed into a hidden place set apart just behind the king where she could see everything, but not be seen. And with intent, Solomon sent to her meats that would make her thirsty, drinks that were mingled with vinegar and fish and dishes made with pepper. He’s a dirty old man, Ceseli thought.

And after the meal ended, the king went to the queen, and he said, “Take thine ease here until daybreak.”

And she said unto him, “Swear unto me by thy God, the God of Israel, that thou wilt not take me by force. For if I, who according to the law of men am a maiden, be seduced, I should travel on my journey home in sorrow, affliction, and tribulation.”

Solomon answered, “I swear that I shall not take thee by force, but thou must swear unto me that thou wilt not take by force anything that is in my house.”

The queen laughed and said unto him, “Being a wise man, do not speak as a fool. Do you imagine that I have come hither through love of riches? My own kingdom is as wealthy as yours, and there is nothing that I wish for that I lack. I have only come in quest of thine wisdom.” And she said unto him, “Swear to me that thou wilt not take me by force, and I on my part will swear not to take by force thy possessions.”

And he swore to her and made her swear. And the king went up on his bed on the one side of the chamber and the servants made ready for her a bed on the other side. Solomon instructed a manservant to wash out a cup and set it in a vessel of water while the queen is looking on and then to shut the door and go to sleep. The servant did as the king commanded. Solomon pretended to be asleep and watched the queen intently.

The queen slept a little, but when she woke her mouth was dry and she was thirsty. She moved her lips and sucked with her mouth. She wanted to drink the water. She looked at King Solomon thinking that he was sleeping soundly. She rose and making no sound, went to the water bowl and lifted the cup to drink the water.

Solomon, of course, was not asleep. He was waiting for her to take the water.

He seized her wrist before she could drink the water, and said, “Why hast thou broken the oath?”

She answered, “Is the oath broken by my drinking water?”

“Is there anything under the heavens that is more valuable than water?”

“I have sinned against myself and thou art free from thy oath. But let me drink some water.”

And he permitted her to drink the water and after he worked his will with her and they slept together.

The day of her departure, Solomon took her aside so that they might be alone and he took off his signet ring and gave it to her as a remembrance. If she should bear a son, then this ring will be a sign of recognition.

The queen did bear a son, whom she named Menelik I. When he became a man, he traveled to Jerusalem to meet his father. Solomon was pleased with him and offered to make him crown prince. Menelik, however, was determined to return home and Solomon graciously anointed his son King of Ethiopia. He chose from the oldest sons of his highest noble families to go with his son to Ethiopia and to establish there a kingdom. Among these young courtiers was Azarayas, the first born of the High Priest, Zadok. Yet these young men, who had grown up in Jerusalem, could not think of living without their god and the Ark of the Covenant. So Azarayas stole the Ark and hid it in the caravan destined for Axum.

Ceseli put down the book. Did Menelik revenge his mother and steal the Ark? “So that’s who did it,” she said aloud, understanding what had happened.

“Who did what?” Standish asked, startling her with his presence.

“Azarayas, the son of Zadok. He would have had access to the keys of the temple.”

“You mean to steal the Ark?”

“Yes. To steal the Ark. How was it?”

“It’s really run down, and it’s very dark. Even with candles you can’t see much. There are some paintings on the walls. But almost nothing else.”

“And the Ark?”

“Ceseli, there’s a big box. The priest seems very concerned about its safety. It looks like it’s made of wood. How do I know whether that’s what you call the Ark? It’s a big moldy box, but I can’t tell you anything much about it.”

“Bezaleel made the Ark of Acacia wood and plated it inside and out with pure gold. It was two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits high and wide. A cubit is the length of a forearm from elbow to the tip of the second finger. Approximately eighteen inches, I guess. Like this,” she said, indicating with her hands.

“So it would be almost four feet long and more than two wide and high. Well, the moldy, old box was about that size. If they were so proud of being converted to Christianity, why would the Ethiopians build a church to protect a pre-Christian relic?”

“It contains the Ten Commandments. Christians believe in them as well.”

“And you really believe it’s here.”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out. Daddy believed I was right. The box must contain something, otherwise why not throw it out?”

“I don’t know what to say. I know you must be very disappointed. I’m sorry women aren’t allowed inside.”

“There is only one day I could see it, that’s when it is brought outside and paraded around. But that’s not going to work because it’s on the Epiphany in January. I’ll be in Rome long before that.”