FRUMENTIUS (c. 300–c. 36o), the founder of the Abyssin ian church, traditionally identified in Abyssinian literature with Abba Salama or Father of Peace (see ETHIOPIA), was a native of Phoenicia. According to Rufinus (x. 9), who gives Aedesius as his authority, a certain Tyrian, Meropius, accompanied by his kinsmen Frumentius and Aedesius, set out on an expedition to "India," but fell into the hands of Ethiopians on the shore of the Red Sea and was put to death. The two young men were taken to the king at Axum, where they obtained, in time, great influence. With the help of Christian merchants who visited the country Frumentius gave Christianity a firm footing. In 326 he was con secrated bishop of Axum by Athanasius of Alexandria, who in his Epistola ad Constantinum mentions the consecration, and gives details of Frumentius's work.