Ethiopian Folktales

Narrated by Worku Mersha

Now Etege Mennen, the wife of Emperor Haile Selassie, is believed to be living in paradise, and Abba Hanna^{Abba Hanna is a historical figure. A monk, he was personal confessor to Haile Selassie.}, who was in charge of all the financial affairs of the Emperor, and at the same time, who is believed to be a greedy person, is living in purgatory.

One day Abba Hanna claimed to visit Etege, going to paradise from purgatory, and he was permitted to do so. As he went into paradise and saw Etege Mennen, he jumped on to her and embraced her. After he stayed for a while in paradise he was called to go back to purgatory. When he was called he refused to go.

Finally, the case was reported to the head of paradise and he said, “Don’t worry, I know that he’s a greedy man.”

St. Peter went to the gate of paradise and started shouting, “Whose money is this?”

Abba Hanna ran out at once, saying, “It’s mine.”

So he lost paradise for a few cents.