Dr. Kirsten Stoffregen-Pedersen
The Lord has called Sr. Abraham to His abode, during Shavuot and the Feast of the Visitation.
Sr. Abraham was a pillar of The Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity in Israel from its inception in 1966 until Summer 2015 when she went to Denmark to a residential care home. During her long life in her beloved Jerusalem, Sr. Abraham, single-handedly, revived academic studies in Geez, the Ethiopian Church language, and in the history of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. As a professor, Sr. Abraham taught and published Ethiopian studies in Jerusalem and abroad. As an iconographer, she taught iconography and wrote some of the most colourful icons in the Ethiopian style. As a teacher for general and special education, she was cherished and loved by the Ethiopian clergy, both women and men, in Israel and in Ethiopia. As a good shepherd, she took care of numerous sick and needy Ethiopians. As a linguist, she spoke and taught in some twelve languages. As a singer, she was much in demand for Gregorian liturgies. As an advocate for women's rights and for all whom she sought in need of help, she spoke up in public. All this she did humbly while earning her living most plainly.
Moving from earthly to heavenly Jerusalem, Sr. Abraham might be remembered with the words for the Feast of the Visitation from the Book of Zephaniah 3:14-17:
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
The Fraternity will have a memorial ceremony for Sr. Abraham. Time and place will be announced soon.
Fraternally,
Rev. Dr. Petra Heldt
Sr. Abraham was a pillar of The Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity in Israel from its inception in 1966 until Summer 2015 when she went to Denmark to a residential care home. During her long life in her beloved Jerusalem, Sr. Abraham, single-handedly, revived academic studies in Geez, the Ethiopian Church language, and in the history of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. As a professor, Sr. Abraham taught and published Ethiopian studies in Jerusalem and abroad. As an iconographer, she taught iconography and wrote some of the most colourful icons in the Ethiopian style. As a teacher for general and special education, she was cherished and loved by the Ethiopian clergy, both women and men, in Israel and in Ethiopia. As a good shepherd, she took care of numerous sick and needy Ethiopians. As a linguist, she spoke and taught in some twelve languages. As a singer, she was much in demand for Gregorian liturgies. As an advocate for women's rights and for all whom she sought in need of help, she spoke up in public. All this she did humbly while earning her living most plainly.
Moving from earthly to heavenly Jerusalem, Sr. Abraham might be remembered with the words for the Feast of the Visitation from the Book of Zephaniah 3:14-17:
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
The Fraternity will have a memorial ceremony for Sr. Abraham. Time and place will be announced soon.
Fraternally,
Rev. Dr. Petra Heldt
Click HERE to read the article in her memory published in HAARETZ on June 22, 2017.
Click HERE to read the article also published in HAARETZ, on June 23, 2017.
Click HERE to read the article also published in HAARETZ, on June 23, 2017.
Messages were received from friends and colleagues around the world:
Dearest Petra - and, all the members of the Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity in Israel, Peace! - I come to share with you my greetings of deepest sympathy and prayerful support. Thank you Petra for sharing the news of the Lord calling dear Sr. Abraham to God's eternal home! I have vivid and most wonderful memories of Sr. Abraham in all the ways she so generously dedicated herself to the quality-of-life in Jerusalem - the city she so loved. And - I am certain that the Lord is REJOICING and welcoming her once again into Jerusalem - into God's heavenly Jerusalem. May Sr. Abraham now rest in God's PEACE. My prayers, gratitude and warmest wishes of support are with all of you.
Sr. Lucy Thorson
Sister of Sion
Toronto
I add my condolences to all those who appreciated Sr. Abraham. I met her for the first time in 1965-6 (I think). When she lived for a time in St. John in the Desert near Ein Karem. A memorable meeting... Joan Poulin
I was in the Benedictine monastery when the news came. I have been teaching a course on Women in Christian history and life for many years. She used to come for my last class to be a living example… in the last years I was teaching my last class about her – showing pictures (of her in and out of her cell), telling her story. If you have pictures of her – I will be very happy to add to my presentation of this special woman. Thank you Petra, and I hope to sit and share with you some things from our past acquaintance with her. My very best, Yisca
Mrs. Yisca Harani
Lecturer, Consultant, Researcher - History of Christianity
What a beautifully written memorial for Sr. Abraham. I’m sure you will all miss her greatly but will look forward to hearing her sing the beautiful chants again. In sympathy, Diane (Jerusalem University College/Institute of Holy Land Studies)
Dear Friends, Memory eternal to Sr. Abraham. I got the news as a breaking one when she passed away. We had met since her early years in Jerusalem. A rare or special life-path that is so evident in Christian Jerusalem. As the ETRFI I do hope that you will share her writings, articles, translations that she produced along her life, esp. for a better understanding and knowledge of all the Churches and the Ethiopian Towahedo patriarchate and tradition in connection with Semitics and Judaics. In the love of Christ, Blessed Pentecost, av aleksandr
Archpriest Alexander A. Winogradsky Frenkel/אב אלכסנדר א. וינוגרדסקי פרנקל
Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Thank you for the news that Sister Abraham has died. May she rest in Peace. She is unforgettable, one of Jerusalem's saints. Benedict T. Viviano, O.P, Vienna.
Many thanks for letting me know of the departure from this earth of Sr. Abraham. I remember her fondly. I pray for her. May she pray for us. Love ,Ottone
Thank you so much for sending out this notice and the beautiful way you wrote the account of the life of Sr. Abraham, really touching. What an amazing woman.....Trudy
I am very sad, I must say, but certainly Heavenly Jerusalem is the most joyful place for Sister Abraham. Jacqueline M.
I would like to join in your sorrow after having read your message about the demise of Sister Abraham. I did not know her personally so well, but she made an impression of a strong character knowing that she was in many fields of her activities indispensable. I hope that someone will replace her in showing zeal for pleading justice for Ethiopian church in Jerusalem. With the sincerest expression of my condolences, Motti Lewy
What an amazing person she must have been. שתהיה זכרה ברוכה Naomi Heim
I am saddened by the news that Sr Abraham passed away. I join my prayers first of all of thanksgiving to the Lord for the gift of such an extraordinary person by whom we all have been greatly enriched. And a prayer of entreating for her eternal joy and peace in that Trinitarian communion which Sr Abraham always looked at as the source and final destination of our Christian life, both at the personal and ecumenical levels. I am sure Sr Abraham will continue to follow us and to inspire our journey. Fr Gianni Caputa, SDB Jerusalem, STS Ratisbonne.
Dear Petra and Fraternity, Thank you for sending me this news of Sr. Abraham. I didn’t know her well but funnily enough, I was just thinking about her the other day. She was quite a figure in Jerusalem. I didn’t know all the facts about her as explained in this announcement but I did know she was a holy woman and a friend of the Fraternity. She and many of the faces of Jerusalem in her age group have been taken by the Lord in recent years, leaving Jerusalem the poorer for it, at least for their presence but, their faith leaves us a legacy and we are all the better for it. May she rest in Peace.
Gail Marks
U.S.A.
Thank you Petra for sharing the news. I met Sister Abraham a long time ago. She was one of the stone[s] of Jerusalem.
Baroukh dayan a emet. God bless and happy Pentecost. Therese
Sr. Lucy Thorson
Sister of Sion
Toronto
I add my condolences to all those who appreciated Sr. Abraham. I met her for the first time in 1965-6 (I think). When she lived for a time in St. John in the Desert near Ein Karem. A memorable meeting... Joan Poulin
I was in the Benedictine monastery when the news came. I have been teaching a course on Women in Christian history and life for many years. She used to come for my last class to be a living example… in the last years I was teaching my last class about her – showing pictures (of her in and out of her cell), telling her story. If you have pictures of her – I will be very happy to add to my presentation of this special woman. Thank you Petra, and I hope to sit and share with you some things from our past acquaintance with her. My very best, Yisca
Mrs. Yisca Harani
Lecturer, Consultant, Researcher - History of Christianity
What a beautifully written memorial for Sr. Abraham. I’m sure you will all miss her greatly but will look forward to hearing her sing the beautiful chants again. In sympathy, Diane (Jerusalem University College/Institute of Holy Land Studies)
Dear Friends, Memory eternal to Sr. Abraham. I got the news as a breaking one when she passed away. We had met since her early years in Jerusalem. A rare or special life-path that is so evident in Christian Jerusalem. As the ETRFI I do hope that you will share her writings, articles, translations that she produced along her life, esp. for a better understanding and knowledge of all the Churches and the Ethiopian Towahedo patriarchate and tradition in connection with Semitics and Judaics. In the love of Christ, Blessed Pentecost, av aleksandr
Archpriest Alexander A. Winogradsky Frenkel/אב אלכסנדר א. וינוגרדסקי פרנקל
Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Thank you for the news that Sister Abraham has died. May she rest in Peace. She is unforgettable, one of Jerusalem's saints. Benedict T. Viviano, O.P, Vienna.
Many thanks for letting me know of the departure from this earth of Sr. Abraham. I remember her fondly. I pray for her. May she pray for us. Love ,Ottone
Thank you so much for sending out this notice and the beautiful way you wrote the account of the life of Sr. Abraham, really touching. What an amazing woman.....Trudy
I am very sad, I must say, but certainly Heavenly Jerusalem is the most joyful place for Sister Abraham. Jacqueline M.
I would like to join in your sorrow after having read your message about the demise of Sister Abraham. I did not know her personally so well, but she made an impression of a strong character knowing that she was in many fields of her activities indispensable. I hope that someone will replace her in showing zeal for pleading justice for Ethiopian church in Jerusalem. With the sincerest expression of my condolences, Motti Lewy
What an amazing person she must have been. שתהיה זכרה ברוכה Naomi Heim
I am saddened by the news that Sr Abraham passed away. I join my prayers first of all of thanksgiving to the Lord for the gift of such an extraordinary person by whom we all have been greatly enriched. And a prayer of entreating for her eternal joy and peace in that Trinitarian communion which Sr Abraham always looked at as the source and final destination of our Christian life, both at the personal and ecumenical levels. I am sure Sr Abraham will continue to follow us and to inspire our journey. Fr Gianni Caputa, SDB Jerusalem, STS Ratisbonne.
Dear Petra and Fraternity, Thank you for sending me this news of Sr. Abraham. I didn’t know her well but funnily enough, I was just thinking about her the other day. She was quite a figure in Jerusalem. I didn’t know all the facts about her as explained in this announcement but I did know she was a holy woman and a friend of the Fraternity. She and many of the faces of Jerusalem in her age group have been taken by the Lord in recent years, leaving Jerusalem the poorer for it, at least for their presence but, their faith leaves us a legacy and we are all the better for it. May she rest in Peace.
Gail Marks
U.S.A.
Thank you Petra for sharing the news. I met Sister Abraham a long time ago. She was one of the stone[s] of Jerusalem.
Baroukh dayan a emet. God bless and happy Pentecost. Therese
Condolences in German
Schwester Abraham gestorben
Eine der berühmten und außergewöhnlichsten Figuren unter den Jerusalemer Geistlichen war Schwester Abraham. Die strohblonde Frau war in Dänemark geboren und hieß eigentlich Dr. Kirsten Stoffregen Pedersen und lebte im äthiopischen Kloster in Jerusalem. Sr. Abraham war eine Säule der ökumenischen theologischen Forschungsbrüderlichkeit in Israel. Sie wiederbelebte akademische Studien in Geez, der äthiopischen Kirchensprache, und der Geschichte der äthiopisch-orthodoxen Kirche. Als Professorin lehrte und veröffentlichte Sr. Abraham äthiopische Studien in Jerusalem und im Ausland. Sie lehrte Ikonographie und malte einige der buntesten Ikonen im äthiopischen Stil. Als Lehrerin für allgemeine und spezielle Erziehung wurde sie von den äthiopischen Geistlichen in Israel und in Äthiopien geschätzt und geliebt. Als guter Hirte kümmerte sie sich um kranke und bedürftige Äthiopier. Als Linguistin sprach und lehrte sie in zwölf Sprachen. Als Sängerin war sie für Gregorianische Liturgien sehr gefragt. TS [Ulrich Sahm published the news of Sr. Abraham's death in IL-Israel.org/nl/170604]
Deine Nachricht, liebe Petra, macht mich sehr traurig! Dein einfühlsamer Nachruf spricht mich auch an. Möge Sr. Abraham in Frieden ruhen (was sterblich ist in Dänemark ?), was nicht sterblich ist sei aufgehoben ins himmlische Jerusalem! Ingrid
Eine der berühmten und außergewöhnlichsten Figuren unter den Jerusalemer Geistlichen war Schwester Abraham. Die strohblonde Frau war in Dänemark geboren und hieß eigentlich Dr. Kirsten Stoffregen Pedersen und lebte im äthiopischen Kloster in Jerusalem. Sr. Abraham war eine Säule der ökumenischen theologischen Forschungsbrüderlichkeit in Israel. Sie wiederbelebte akademische Studien in Geez, der äthiopischen Kirchensprache, und der Geschichte der äthiopisch-orthodoxen Kirche. Als Professorin lehrte und veröffentlichte Sr. Abraham äthiopische Studien in Jerusalem und im Ausland. Sie lehrte Ikonographie und malte einige der buntesten Ikonen im äthiopischen Stil. Als Lehrerin für allgemeine und spezielle Erziehung wurde sie von den äthiopischen Geistlichen in Israel und in Äthiopien geschätzt und geliebt. Als guter Hirte kümmerte sie sich um kranke und bedürftige Äthiopier. Als Linguistin sprach und lehrte sie in zwölf Sprachen. Als Sängerin war sie für Gregorianische Liturgien sehr gefragt. TS [Ulrich Sahm published the news of Sr. Abraham's death in IL-Israel.org/nl/170604]
Deine Nachricht, liebe Petra, macht mich sehr traurig! Dein einfühlsamer Nachruf spricht mich auch an. Möge Sr. Abraham in Frieden ruhen (was sterblich ist in Dänemark ?), was nicht sterblich ist sei aufgehoben ins himmlische Jerusalem! Ingrid
