Later, Frumentius traveled to Alexandria, Egypt, where he appealed to have a bishop appointed and missionary priests sent south to Axum.

[3][6] When their ship stopped at one of the harbors of the Red Sea, local people massacred the whole crew, sparing the two boys, who were taken as slaves to the King of Axum.

The widowed queen, however, prevailed upon them to remain at the court and assist her in the education of the young heir, Ezana, and in the administration of the kingdom during the prince's minority.

First they encouraged the Christian merchants present in the country to practice their faith openly, and they helped them find places "where they could come together for prayer according to the Roman Rite";[7] later they converted some of the natives.

By Athanasius' own account, he believed Frumentius to be the most suitable person for the job and consecrated him as bishop,[8] traditionally in the year 328, or according to others, between 340 and 346.

[citation needed] He is the patron saint of St Frumentius Theological College, the Tigrayan Seminary in Ethiopia.