Rufinus was born around A.D. 345 in Concordia, near Aquileia in Italy. During his studies in Rome, he came into contact with St. Jerome. Later, he became a monk at Aquileia. In 371, he visited Egypt, where he lived as a monk for six years. Afterward, he traveled through Syria and Mesopotamia before proceeding to Jerusalem. Many years later, he returned to Italy and remained there until 407, when the Visigoths attacked Rome. From there he went to Sicily, where he died in A.D. 410.
In his work Ecclesiastical History, Rufinus gives an account of St. Frumentius, who preached the Gospel in India. He writes as follows:
When the Apostles divided the world by casting lots for the preaching of the Word of God, different regions were allotted to different Apostles. Parthia was assigned to Thomas and Matthew, and the region adjoining it to Bartholomew. That territory lay between Parthia and India. In India there were people who spoke many different languages.
A philosopher named Metrodorus went to India in his desire to study the world. Another philosopher from Tyre, Meropius, likewise wished to visit India. He took with him two boys who were his pupils in literature – Aedesius and Frumentius. However, this philosopher was killed, and the two boys were taken captive. Those who had accompanied them were also slain. The boys were brought before the king. Pleased with them, the king appointed the younger one, Aedesius, as his cupbearer, and the elder, who was more learned, as his treasurer. The king held them both in great honor. Later, he gave the elder significant authority in the governance of the kingdom. During this period, Frumentius supported and encouraged the Christians in the land, built places of worship for them, and showed great zeal in sowing the seeds of the Christian faith.
Eventually, Aedesius returned to his homeland. Frumentius, filled with a burning desire to spread the Gospel, went to Alexandria. There he reported everything that had happened to the local bishop and requested that a suitable missionary be sent to continue the work of evangelization. But Bishop Athanasius himself entrusted this mission to Frumentius, ordaining him and commissioning him to undertake it.
Accepting this task, Frumentius returned to India, where he brought many pagans to the Christian faith. In various parts of India, he converted people to Christianity, established churches, and ordained priests. None of these accounts are mere legends; they were received from the lips of Aedesius himself, Frumentius’ own companion (PL XXI, 478).
Rev. Dr. James Puliurumpil
