THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX TEWAHEDO CHURCH RESISTANCE

Members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Dessie Debre Betel Saint Trinity and Saint Gabriel Cathedral spent the night praying. Also Woldiya Medhanialem church spent the night praying, and Bahir Dar, Meskel Square Meskaye Hazunan Medhane Alem Monastery carried out night prayers. This is part of a continued resistance by the Holy Synod and faithful.

This was caused by an event that led to what has now potentially has become a split of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church that happened at the Haro Beale Wold Church in Woliso city of the South West Shoa zone in Oromia Regional State, on 22 January, where His Holiness Abune Sawiros (PhD), Archbishop of South West Shoa Diocese, together with two other Archbishops, appointed 26 bishops: 17 bishops for dioceses located in the Oromia region, and nine bishops for dioceses outside Oromia without the involvement of the Holy Synod. Thus, creating widespread shock and anger among many of the church’s followers. The appointment was called “illegal” by his Holiness Abune Mathias I, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) who convened an emergency meeting to deal with the event he described as “a great event that has targeted the church.”

This divide of a historical Ethiopian religious institution caused by the Abiy Ahmed dictatorship of divide and rule ideology, has potential of a bloody religious war in Ethiopia. Already the dictatorship has taken sides and killed Christians in Shashamane. The Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) has mobilised its members to dress in black and protest against what it calls a government supported coup attempt to overthrow the Holy Synod by the “illegal group.”

The Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) has declared the faithful to observe the upcoming three days of Fast of Nineveh which will be observed from Monday 06 to Wednesday 08 February, by wearing black to protest against what it said is a government supported coup attempt to overthrow the Holy Synod by the “illegal group.”

“On the occasion of the Fast of Nineveh, Christians all over the world wear only black clothes, take vows in fasting and prayer by being present in the premises of the Church. We wear black clothes to express perseverance in suffering,” he said.

The Synod also accused the government that “instead of enforcing the law, the government failed to uphold the law and rights of the church by giving support to illegal groups, so the Holy Synod understands that it is important to pray and make vows to our all-powerful God.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Mulugeta, who was condemned by the holy synod in Kembata Tembaro Halaba, has sneaked into Durame city at night and has fallen into the hands of believers. At this moment, the Kembata Tambaro zone police and the elders of the area have saved his life. Believers and youth around Sebeta, Alemgena, Wolete, Furi have organised themselves at house the angel.