EPIPHANY: 3 Wise Kings of the Magi

by Gary James

The content of the work provides an overview of the Ethiopian Orthodox Coptic Church (EOCC) of North and South America from its establishment in the late 1950s, with the appointment of the Metropolitan Primate Abuna Michael, until the churches decline in 1999.

Headquartered in Brooklyn NY during its high point, the vibrant and colorful priesthood of 33 included 15 parish priests with churches in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Harlem until 1989 with the passing of the Metropolitan Primate. The church leadership transition was very controversial and the process was protracted due to the rapid decline in the Primate’s health. His declining health was complicated by a legacy of poor leadership because at the end of the day, Primate Michael named a successor who expressed ecclesiastical differences that ultimately help to facilitate the demise of the official public mission of (EOCC).

Priest Jose, the central character in the storyline is the clerk of the Holy Synod that resulted in the consecration of Abuna Nathaniel as Metropolitan Primate and successor to Abuna Michael.

The proceedings of the synod was overseen by H.E. Dejazmatch Amaha Abera Zion Kassa, former Governor General of Ethiopia in the administration of Emperor Haile Selassie. Affectionately known as Prof. Kassa by his students, the Dejazmatch lived in exile in New York City subsequent to serving 8 years in prison, following the communist coup of Ethiopian that occurred in 1974 under the sponsorship of the former Soviet Union. Professor Kassa served as the overseer of EOCC in his familial capacity of defender of the Faith. Professor Kassa also served as President and Chancellor of Trinity University College, the seminary for the priesthood. Jose served as the assistant and protégé to Prof. Kassa and functioned as liaison to the respective churches.

Apart from the colorful substance of the narrative describing the church leadership, old and new, the back story is interesting and compelling because EOCC is a member of the Easter Orient Orthodox communion whose rich Judeo-Christian history predates the Roman Catholic Church by 300 plus years. The storyline presents a parallel procession of Eastern Orthodox Christianity and the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches in the West. From the ancient “East vs. West” schism of the 4th century the resulted in the excommunication of Ethiopian bishops from the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea, that codified the domination of the Church of Rome over world Christianity. In addition, the book’s narrative identifies the contribution of Africa, by way of Ethiopia to world Judeo-Christianity. Relevant historical data can be accessed at: www.BalthazarMonastery.com

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2008

About the author

Gary Jose James is among the baby boom generation, born in New York City and a product of the public school system. He was a staff organizer for the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO) from 1966 to 1971, and was consequential in the civil rights and black power movements. Gary held policy and executive positions in various Community Action Agencies (CAA), as well as local Steering Committees. Gary is a theologian in the Eastern Oriental Orthodox tradition, in addition to Judeo-Christianity in the western traditions (Catholics and Protestants). Gary has published four books, ERACISM, EPIPHANY: Three Wise Kings of the Magi, TRANSFER DAY, and Black Politics 2.0, and is the Dean of Deacons and Students in the BalthazarMonastery.com.
My genre is non-fiction and topics include current events, politics and religion, however, I am currently working on some working titles for venturing into the novel genre. My most recent release, “Black Politics 2.0” explores that state of black politics prior to the political advent of President Barack Obama. Transfer Day was released in September of 2013. Transfer Day occurred on March 31, 1917 when the United States purchased the Danish West Indies, now known as the Virgin Islands of the United States. The narrative examines the contribution of Virgin Islanders to the cultural, intellectual and political advancement in the United States and New York City in particular. The role of Virgin Islander in the storied Harlem Renaissance and uncovers my ancestral roots on the island of St. Croix wherein my great, great, great grandparents were enslaved under the Danish West Indies.

I am developing my Internet presence: www.GaryJoseJames.com, www.Sound-Meal.com, www.Africa21Foundation.wordpress.com, www.BalthazarMonastery.com, www.theJCgroup.net.