By Floyd Jarvis
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” The ancient, resonant truth of Psalm 133:1 did not merely echo within the walls of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church this past Sunday; it manifested in the flesh. In a moment of profound spiritual and historical convergence, three distinct faith traditions- the host Abyssinian Baptist Church, the Ethiopian Crown Council representing the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and Rastafari communities drawn from across the global African diaspora- gathered as one family under one roof.
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This historic day marked a magnificent milestone in a 200-year-old relationship connecting the historic land of Abyssinia, the sovereign nation of Ethiopia, and the sprawling African diaspora. Our shared history is one of unbroken spiritual resistance and unbroken identity. From the maritime merchants who founded Abyssinian Baptist Church in 1808 to the mobilization of Harlem leadership against fascism in 1937 under the Ethiopian World Federation, our narratives have been intricately bound. Sunday’s gathering proved that the miles and centuries between us have done nothing to weaken the ties of our collective lineage. It reminded us that the bridges built by our ancestors remain sturdy channels of cultural and political renewal.
For me, this sanctuary holds a deeply personal space that bridges my academic foundations with my lifetime walk in faith. Nearly two decades ago, as an undergraduate student researcher at CUNY Brooklyn College, I first walked through these very doors. I had the profound honor of serving under the guidance of Dr. Genna Rae McNeil, conducting intensive archival research for her monumental book, Witness: Two Hundred Years of African-American Faith and Practice at the Abyssinian Baptist Church. Immersing myself in the church’s dusty records, letters, and meeting minutes, I did not merely study history; I felt the pulse of a living, breathing covenant. I learned firsthand how this sacred institution has consistently stood as a beacon of resistance, self-determination, and global African solidarity. Returning to this sacred space to speak before royalty felt like the closing of a divine circle.
The spiritual peak of this gathering was anchored by a sacred physical artifact: the magnificent Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo processional cross. Presented originally by Emperor Haile Selassie I to the Reverend Adam Clayton Powell Sr. during His Imperial Majesty’s historic 1954 State Visit to the United States, this treasured cross stands as a physical covenant between the Ethiopian throne and African American freedom struggles. For decades, it has remained a protected symbol of the deep mutual respect between the Solomonic Crown and the children of the diaspora who found refuge and purpose in the churches of Harlem.
The living continuation of this covenant was made undeniably visible by the lineage present in the sanctuary. Standing side-by-side in mutual honor were the direct descendants of the giants who forged this bond: the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie I, His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, alongside the grandson of the Reverend Adam Clayton Powell Sr. To witness the generations converge beneath the shadow of that sacred processional cross, while documentary cameras rolled to capture the moment for posterity, was to watch prophecy fulfill itself in real-time. It demonstrated that historical memory is not passive; it is an active inheritance carried forward by the bloodlines of those who refused to let the flame of Pan-African solidarity die.
For the Rastafari movement, this gathering was an extraordinary testament to the enduring sovereignty of the Solomonic Crown and the spiritual topography that tethers our hearts directly to Ethiopia. As a Rastafarian chaplain who spends each day providing pastoral care and defending the religious freedoms of incarcerated men and women within the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, this convergence felt like a glimpse of true liberation. We showed the world that our diversity across denominations and geographical divides is not a source of fracturing, but the very texture of our collective strength.
By documenting this triumph, the host church, the Crown Council, and the diaspora have laid down a new marker for future generations. We proved that we are not a scattered people adrift in history, but a gathered nation, forever bound by a legacy of resistance, a culture of deep faith, and an eternal commitment to dwelling together in divine unity.
Floyd Jarvis is a dedicated community leader and educator working at the intersection of spiritual guidance, social justice, and economic empowerment. He currently serves as the Statewide Rastafarian Chaplain for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), where he provides essential pastoral care, spiritual support, and advocacy for incarcerated individuals, ensuring the preservation of their religious freedoms and cultural rights. Floyd is an avid community gardener and holds a B.A. in African Studies from CUNY Brooklyn College.
