Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Recent history=== [[File:Salama III.jpg|thumb|Engraving of [[Abuna Salama III]], head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (1841-1867)]] In more modern times, the Ethiopian Church has experienced a series of developments. The 19th century witnessed the publication of an Amharic translation of the Bible. Largely the work of [[Abu Rumi]] over ten years in Cairo, this version, with some changes, held sway until Emperor [[Haile Selassie]] ordered a new translation which appeared in 1960/1.<ref>[[Edward Ullendorff]], ''Ethiopia and the Bible'' (Oxford: British Academy, 1988), p. 66</ref> Haile Selassie also played a prominent role in further reforms of the church, which included encouraging the distribution of Abu Rumi's translation throughout Ethiopia,<ref>Margary Perham, ''The Government of Ethiopia'', second edition (London: Faber and Faber, 1969), pp. 121f</ref> as well as his promotion of improved education of clergy, a significant step in the Emperor's effort being the founding of the Theological College of the Holy Trinity Church in December 1944.<ref>Perham, ''Government of Ethiopia'', p. 132</ref> A third development came after Haile Selassie's restoration to Ethiopia, when he issued, on 30 November, Decree Number 2 of 1942, a new law reforming the church. The primary objectives of this decree were to put the finances of the church in order, to create a central fund for its activities, and to set forth requirements for the appointment of clergy—which had been fairly lax until then.<ref>Perham, ''Government of Ethiopia'', pp. 130</ref> The Coptic and Ethiopian churches reached an agreement on 13 July 1948, that led to [[autocephaly]] for the Ethiopian Church. Five [[bishop]]s were immediately consecrated by the Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa, empowered to elect a new patriarch for their church, and the successor to Qerellos IV would have the power to consecrate new bishops.<ref>Discussed in fuller detail by Perham, ''Government of Ethiopia'', pp. 126–130</ref> This promotion was completed when Coptic Orthodox [[Pope Joseph II of Alexandria|Pope Joseph II]] consecrated an Ethiopian-born Archbishop, [[Abuna Basilios]], 14 January 1951. Then in 1959, [[Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria]] crowned Basilios as the first Patriarch of Ethiopia. [[File:Display of Procesional Crosses, Church of Bet Maryam, Lalibela, Ethiopia (3230772118).jpg|thumb|left|An Ethiopian Orthodox priest displays the [[processional cross]]es.]] Basilios died in 1970, and was succeeded that year by [[Abune Tewophilos|Tewophilos]]. With the fall of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church was disestablished as the [[state church]]. The new Marxist government began nationalizing property (including land) owned by the church. Tewophilos was arrested in 1976 by the [[Marxism|Marxist]] [[Derg]] [[military junta]], and secretly executed in 1979. The government ordered the church to elect a new Patriarch, and [[Abune Takla Haymanot|Takla Haymanot]] was enthroned. The Coptic Orthodox Church refused to recognize the election and enthronement of Tekle Haymanot on the grounds that the [[Synod]] of the Ethiopian Church had not removed Tewophilos and that the government had not publicly acknowledged his death, and he was thus still the legitimate Patriarch of Ethiopia. Formal relations between the two churches were halted, although they remained in communion with each other. Formal relations between the two churches resumed on July 13, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/English/visitseng.htm#11|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080828004034/http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/English/visitseng.htm#11|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-08-28|title="Common Declaration" of Pope Shenoudah III, Catholicos Aram I, and Patriarch Paulos | work = News and Media | publisher = Armenian Orthodox Church | date = 22 July 2007}}</ref> Tekle Haymanot proved to be much less accommodating to the Derg regime than it had expected, and so when the patriarch died in 1988, a new patriarch with closer ties to the regime was sought. The Archbishop of [[Gondar]], a member of the Derg-era Ethiopian Parliament, was elected and enthroned as [[Abuna Merkorios]]. Following the fall of the Derg regime in 1991, and the coming to power of the [[Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front|EPRDF]] government, Merkorios abdicated under public pressure. The church then elected a new Patriarch, [[Abune Paulos|Paulos]], who was recognized by the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria. The former Merkorios then fled abroad, and announced from exile that his abdication had been made under duress and thus he was still the legitimate Patriarch of Ethiopia. Several bishops also went into exile and formed a break-away alternate synod.<ref name= "nyt1992-09-22">{{Cite news | last= Goldman | first=Ari L. | title=U.S. Branch Leaves Ethiopian Orthodox Church | url= https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/22/nyregion/us-branch-leaves-ethiopian-orthodox-church.html | newspaper= [[The New York Times]] | date=22 September 1992 | access-date=29 April 2016 }}</ref> The [[Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church]] was granted [[Autocephaly of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church|autocephaly]] from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church on 28 September 1993 following ratification by Coptic church Patriarch [[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Shenouda III]]. The schism has met opposition from dissent that saw it as a disintegration of Ethiopia's spiritual heritage.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Prunier |first1=Gérard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYmMCwAAQBAJ&dq=Shortly+after+the+Eritrean+independence+referendum+in+April+1993,+the+Eritrean+clergy+asked+the+Coptic+Patriarch+Shenouda+III+to+grant+autonomy+from+Ethiopia.&pg=PA80 |title=Understanding Contemporary Ethiopia |last2=Ficquet |first2=Éloi |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-1-84904-261-1 |language=en}}</ref> As of 2005, there are many Ethiopian Orthodox churches located throughout the United States and other countries to which Ethiopians have migrated (Archbishop Yesehaq 1997). Paulos died on 16 August 2012. On 28 February 2013, a college of electors assembled in Addis Ababa and elected [[Abune Mathias|Mathias]] to be the 6th Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.<ref name= "bbc2013-03-01">{{cite web|title= Ethiopian church appoints Abune Mathias as patriarch | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21627611 | work=BBC News | date= 2013-03-01 | access-date= 2013-03-03 }}</ref> On 25 July 2018, delegates from the Patriarchate in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and those in the United States, declared reunification in [[Washington, D.C.]] Declaring the end of a 26-year-old schism, the church announced that it acknowledges two Patriarchs, Merkorios, Fourth Patriarch of Ethiopia and Mathias I, Sixth Patriarch and Catholicos of Ethiopia, Archbishop of Axum and Ichege of the See of Saint Taklehaimanot.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://borkena.com/2018/07/26/ethiopian-church-officially-declared-reunification-in-the-presence-of-pm/ |website= Borkena Ethiopian News |title= Ethiopian Church officially declared reunification in the presence of PM Abiy Ahmed |date= 2018-07-26 |url-status= bot: unknown |archive-date= 2021-09-23 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210923091546/https://borkena.com/2018/07/26/ethiopian-church-officially-declared-reunification-in-the-presence-of-pm/ |access-date= 2021-09-11 }}</ref> On 22 January 2023, an attempt to overthrow Abune Mathias was failed following a secret formation of new 26-made bishop Synod led by Abune Sawiros in Oromia Region diocese, such as in Haro Beale Wold Church in [[Woliso]], and nine bishops of diocese outside the region. The Patriarchate called it an "illegal appointment", where Abune Mathias decried it as "great event that has targeted the church".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-24 |title=Analysis: Shock, controversy rocks Ethiopian Orthodox Church after Popes suspended for involving in "illegal appointment" threaten to split |url=https://addisstandard.com/analysis-shock-controversy-rocks-ethiopian-orthodox-church-after-popes-suspended-for-involving-in-illegal-appointment-threaten-to-split/ |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Addis Standard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Breakaway bishops threaten split in Ethiopia church | url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/africa/2023-01-24-breakaway-bishops-threaten-split-in-ethiopia-church/ |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}</ref> After not apologising for the illegal ordination, three Archbishops were excommunicated by the Holy Synod on 26 January.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Account |date=2023-01-27 |title=Ethiopian Orthodox Church Excommunicated three subversive Archbishops |url=https://borkena.com/2023/01/26/ethiopian-orthodox-church-excommunicated-three-subversive-archbishops/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Borkena Ethiopian News |language=en-US}}</ref> On 31 January 2023, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed convened a discussion surrounding the incident where he responded he is ready to resolve the conflict. The speech led backlash from the Holy Synod and accused his government of meddling in the Church in reference to [[separation of church and state]] in the Article 11 of the [[1995 Constitution of Ethiopia|FDRE Constitution]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Account |date=2023-02-01 |title=Ethiopian Church threatens to stage a nationwide peaceful demonstration |url=https://borkena.com/2023/02/01/ethiopian-church-threatens-to-stage-a-nationwide-peaceful-demonstration/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Borkena Ethiopian News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=St |first1=Addis |last2=ard |date=2023-02-02 |title=News Analysis: As schism deepens, Orthodox Synod slams PM Abiy's remarks on ongoing crisis point by point, threaten to organize worldwide protest |url=https://addisstandard.com/analysis-orthodox-synod-slams-pm-abiys-remarks-on-ongoing-crisis-point-by-point-threaten-to-organize-worldwide-protest/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Addis Standard |language=en-US}}</ref> On 4 February, three people were reportedly killed in [[Shashamane|Shashemene]] by the [[Oromia Special Forces]]. According Tewahedo Media Center (TMC), two Orthodox youth were killed and four others were injured by the Oromo Special Forces. Abune Henok, Archbishop of Addis Ababa Diocese described it as "shameful and heart-wrenching".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Three Killed in Attacks on Ethiopian Orthodox Church, According to a Report |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/three-killed-in-attacks-on-ethiopian-orthodox-church-report-/6948447.html |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=VOA |date=4 February 2023 |language=en}}</ref> In response to grievance, numerous celebrities expressed their solidarity to the Church via social media and other platforms and donned black clothing during three-days [[Fast of Nineveh]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Insight |first=Addis |date=2023-02-04 |title=Celebrities, Diplomats, and Influencers Stand United in Support of Ethiopian Orthodox Church |url=https://addisinsight.net/celebrities-diplomats-and-influencers-stand-united-in-support-of-ethiopian-orthodox-church/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Addis Insight |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=St |first1=Addis |last2=ard |date=2023-02-03 |title=News: Orthodox Synod declares it faithful to wear black for the Fast of Nineveh in protest against "illegal group" |url=https://addisstandard.com/news-orthodox-synod-declares-faithful-to-wear-black-for-fast-of-nineveh-to-protest-against-illegal-group/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Addis Standard |language=en-US}}</ref> On 9 February, the government imposed restrictions on social sites targeted to [[Facebook]], [[Messenger (software)|Messenger]], [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] and [[TikTok]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-10 |title=Ethiopia Orthodox Church split: Social media restricted |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64597375 |access-date=2023-02-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nigeria |first=News Agency of |date=2023-02-10 |title=Internet blocked in Ethiopia after church rift turns violence |url=https://gazettengr.com/internet-blocked-in-ethiopia-after-church-rift-turns-violence/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Peoples Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> On the next day, the delegation of Synod held an urgent meeting with Abiy at his office, which resulted in condemnation of the proclaimed Oromia Synod from Abiy.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=St |first1=Addis |last2=ard |date=2023-02-10 |title=NewsAlert: PM Abiy in meeting with Orthodox Patriarch |url=https://addisstandard.com/newsalert-pm-abiy-in-meeting-with-orthodox-patriarch/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Addis Standard |language=en-US}}</ref> On 12 February, a nationwide protest was postponed. [[Abune Petros (21st-century bishop)|Abune Petros]], the Secretary of the Holy Synod announced that the demonstration would be postponed following peaceful talks with the Prime Minister and a government agreement to solve the problem.<ref>{{cite web |last=AfricaNews |date=2023-02-12 |title=Ethiopia Orthodox leaders postpone protest called amid hegemony claims |url=https://www.africanews.com/2023/02/12/ethiopia-orthodox-leaders-postpone-protest-called-amid-hegemony-claims/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Africanews }}</ref> On 15 February, the Church reached an agreement with the illegally ordinated synod.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethiopian Orthodox Church reaches deal with three rogue bishops |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/16/ethiopian-orthodox-church-reaches-deal-with-breakaway-oromo-synod |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref> The government lifted the internet ban after five months on 17 July.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-19 |title=Ethiopian Govt Lifts Internet Restrictions |url=https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00086415.html |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=allAfrica.com |language=en}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page