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posted on Aug 23, 2005 - 03:25 AM
Heres a link to an article speaking about the removal of Abune Antonious from his throne
http://news9.asmarino.com/content/view/486/86/
If anyone can read the Tigrina of the official letter a translation would be appreciated.
posted on Aug 25, 2005 - 06:10 AM
Here are some updates:
I am not sure of the sources though.
But it seems that there are a lot of politics in. 
The Drama to Unseat the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church in Eritrea Just when one thinks that the police state in Eritrea cannot possibly become more depraved, it has the most unique ability to pull another surprise. I just came across a detailed account of what has transpired this past week in Asmara. The architect of such flagrant act against the Church is non other but the government. It is a known fact that the government of Eritrea (GOE) has a reputation for obsessive control of everything and everyone -- none spared.
Mr. Yoftahe Dimetros, an ex-government officer who served the Ethiopian government faithfully during the time of Ethiopian occupation, is now a faithful servant of the PFDJ -- the sole political party that is ruling the country..
The dangers that Mr. Yoftahe poses over church affairs are obvious. Appointed by the government he now assumes the responsibility of administering the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church. It is believed that his special assignment is to make sure that the Church toes the party line and to function as an instrument of containment. This, incidentally, has been the modus operandi of the long catalog of succeeding colonial masters of Eritrea. And here goes the government of Eritrea following the same tactic against its own people. The thinking behind it is simple: control over the Orthodox Church will help the government into controlling the people.
Luckily for the Eritrean Orthodox Church of today, there is a patriarch at the helm, His Holiness Abune Antonios, who is so bold as to draw a line. He stubbornly holds to the independence of the Church from any political interference coming from the government. One of the missions of Mr. Yoftahe is to bend the will of the Church in accordance to the interests of the State. His Holiness’ dogged determination to maintain the Church’s integrity and her apostolic mandate are, therefore, in contradiction with moves the government is taking against the church. Thus, it is common knowledge that Abune Antonios, the head of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church and Mr. Yoftahe, GOE’s political appointee have been on a collision course for some time.
The contest between the Church and GOE has reached its Zenith this past week when Mr. Yoftahe, using his political power as the Administrator of the Orthodox Church has, through intimidation and threat, imposed his will on the bishops who make up the Synod, the highest authority of the Church. Practically all the bishops are now under his tutelage, signing off any decision he wants passed. Once he brought the poor bishops under his control, next, at the end of July, he accompanied Abune Marcos, a bishop who is Ethiopian by birth, to Egypt to explore the possibility of having him anointed as Eritrea’s Patriarch to replace His Holiness Abune Antonios. Reliable sources report that the Egyptian fathers were caught by surprise when faced with such a bizarre request. They told Mr. Yoftahe that the anointing of a new “patriarch” for the purpose of unseating a bona fide patriarch cannot even be contemplated in the history and tradition of the Oriental Churches. Frustrated, Mr. Yoftahe returned home.
Upon returning to Eritrea, Mr. Yoftahe concocted yet another plan to unseat the Patriarch of Eritrea. Again, using the Synod, which he has turned into a servile and rubber-stamp body, he convened an urgent meeting. Present were the same bishops, many of the abbots of the monasteries throughout Eritrea and other notable personalities of the church. His Holiness, who should have been the only person to convene and Chair any such proceeding, was barred even from attending. Mr. Yoftahe simply read the assembled body a prepared statement, announcing that His Holiness Abune Antonios, henceforth, will no longer perform his function as the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Eritrea.
The response of the assembled body, the colluding bishops, was swift. The abbots and the rest of the notable personalities of the Church insisted on the proceeding being open to questions and answers. Mr. Yoftahe and his cohorts refused to accede to such demands, answering that the meeting was called to simply making the important announcement, and adjourned the proceeding under a huge protest. The coup de tat has been “accomplished.”
The nature of the official charges that were read against His Holiness at the meeting was bizarre. What were the charges that served as the basis for deposing him? Here, it suffices to read only the first two. Firstly, his refusal to cooperate in the closing down of the Mekane Hiwet Medhane Alem Church and the locking out of the 1000s of young people who attended the Sunday school classes there. The facts, however, are as follows. The weekly gathering of up to 3000 young people at the above church to listen to the word of God and worship, His Holiness had argued, was the best thing that has happened in the recent memory of the Church. According to him, what needed to be done was to assign sufficient number of qualified teachers to shepherd the youth, not closing down the church, or throwing the young people out.
Secondly, he was accused of going to the president’s office to plead on behalf of the three priests who are in prison (Rev. Dr. Fitsum Ghebrenegus, Rev. Dr. TecleabMenghisteab and Rev. Gebremedhin Gebregiorgis). His Holiness can only wear these charges as badges of honor. It would have been inappropriate had he failed to oppose the forced closure of the churches over which he presides and the imprisonment of the prominent priests.
The rest of the charges are just as absurd. But, if not for anything else, history will remember Mr. Yoftahe for declaring war on the Orthodox Church, closing down churches and the persecution of its young followers. The second charge against His Holiness also proves that the witch hunt was challenged by the Church, against which Mr Yoftehe had to retaliate.
For the rest of the adherents of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, there are today only two clear choices: either acknowledge His Holiness Abune Antonios as the only legitimate Patriarch of Eritrea and stand boldly by him and the Church, or bow down to Mr. Yoftahe’s illegal meddling
May God give the people of Eritrea the wisdom and courage to stand up to tyranny!
_________________
Maran Atha
Origenos Piremrakoti
posted on Aug 25, 2005 - 06:14 AM
For the first time ever, CSW reported, the traditional Jan. 2005 Orthodox Annual Christmas message was not aired on national media after the Patriarch allegedly objected to the n Nov. 2004 detention of three Orthodox priests from the Medhane Alem Church, and accused the government of interfering in church affairs.
The Patriarch also opposed requests to close down the church, which is linked to the Orthodox renewal movement and attracts thousands of young people.
More recently, CSW wrote that Asmarino.com reported that prior to his removal from administrative duties, the Patriarch had increasingly begun to challenge the regime on spiritual grounds, and had objected to government intrusion through Dimetros in the administration of the Patriarchate.
Dimetros has become "increasingly infamous," CSW reported. He "repeatedly clashed" with the Patriarch as he attempted to force the Orthodox Church to adopt government inspired policies. Dimetros is also reported to have accompanied an Eritrean Bishop to the seat of the Egyptian Orthodox Church in July in an attempt to persuade the Papacy to replace Patriarch Antonios with this bishop.
Indicating Dimetros' "current notoriety," CSW reported that a July 30 2005 letter from the Eritrean Orthodox Church in America, called for his "immediate removal from the illegal position he holds," and his replacement by a bishop who fulfils the criteria outlined in the church's constitution and "has the interest of the Church and her sacred mission at heart."
Mervyn Thomas, chief executive officer of CSW, said in a news release, "We are dismayed by this unwarranted intervention in the affairs of the Orthodox Church. The discourteous treatment of the Primate of a church that is supposed to have government sanction suggests that in reality the Eritrean regime is attempting to curtail every expression of Christianity in that country."
For more information, go to www.csw.org.uk and www.tewahdo.com/newsEven_DioceseResolutions.htm
posted on Aug 25, 2005 - 06:15 AM
Eritrea Strips Authority of Orthodox Patriarch
Prelate challenged government interference with church.
Special to Compass Direct
LOS ANGELES, August 23 (Compass) -- Abuna Antonios of the Eritrean Orthodox Church has been stripped of his patriarchal authority by a congress of the Holy Synod convened on August 7.
According to a letter smuggled out of the repressive East African nation from the patriarch’s office, the 78-year-old prelate was not removed from his position. But Antonios was forbidden to carry out any administrative functions or even bless his congregation.
Dated August 9, the letter in the Tigrinya language was posted on the website of Asmarino Independent News on August 20.
According to an accompanying statement, the Holy Synod demanded that the patriarch be deposed over six accusations in which he was said to have been “an obstacle in the work of the Holy Christian Church.” The list of charges included his reluctance to excommunicate 3,000 members of Medhane Alem, an Orthodox Sunday School movement, and his high-level request that the government release some imprisoned Christian “traitors” from jail.
Elected patriarch only 17 months ago, Antonios had begun to challenge government interference in church affairs earlier this year. The Orthodox faithful, who constitute some 40 percent of the population, were first puzzled when their patriarch’s annual Christmas message was not broadcast on national radio or television on January 7.
Then, in the wake of several police raids on Medhane Alem gatherings, three of the Orthodox movement’s prominent leaders were arrested in March. Despite patriarchal inquiries, the Rev. Dr. Futsum Kuluberhan, the Rev. Dr. Tekleab Mengisteab and the Rev. Gebremedhin Georgis are still jailed incommunicado in Asmara’s notorious Wongel Mermera investigation center.
According to the Holy Synod’s statement, their congress to depose the patriarch was called by Yeftehe Dimetros, a layman appointed by the government as administrator of the Orthodox Church.
Sources in Eritrea accuse Dimetros of drafting all the accusations against the patriarch, noting that several priests who supported the elected head of the church have been suspended from office and lost their salaries.
As a political appointee, Dimetros violates centuries-old church canons in his new role. Articles 32 and 96 of the Eritrean Orthodox Church Constitution require that this position be held by a bishop appointed by the patriarch.
Rumors are now circulating in Asmara that President Isaias Afwerki’s government intends to announce the election of another patriarch soon. This would also be a direct contravention of church statutes governing the selection of a new patriarch.
posted on Aug 25, 2005 - 02:19 PM
It is really upsetting to hear this kind of thing actually happening.
I bet if anything like this ever tried to happen in our church and a government of ficial tried something like this I wouldn't be surprised if our Holy Synod didn't even entertain the thought.
posted on Sep 01, 2005 - 06:57 PM
Don't know if an official statment came out, I'll ask around.
Sadat tried to do something similiar when he placed His Holiness under house arrest, most of the synod and many prominent members of the clergy ended up in jail as well. Sadat appointed a council of three bishops to administer to the chuch, the late bishops Gregorius, Samuel and I forgot the third. He then was going to place the late Bishop Samuel on the throne of St. Mark to replace His Holiness, whether Bishop Samuel was willing or not noone really knows and those who do aren't talking. This never came to pass because both Bishop Samuel and Sadat were killed when Sadat was assinated. (Some see the hand of God in this because Bishop Samuel was only struck in the leg by the bullet but died from the wound)
Though in various statements I've read the Eritrean church in the US stands with Abune Antonios.
Something very similiar happened in the Ethiopian church, where when the Derg regime took over they arrested and executed Abune Tewophilus and put Abune Tekla Hemaniot in his place and afterwards the regime also chose his successor Abune Merkorios, both being rejected by the ethiopian synod. After the fall of the Derg regime with his political backing gone Abune Merkorios was forced to abdicate and the synod rightfully elected Abune Paulos and he was crowned by H.H.. Though Abune Merkorios claims he has never abdicated and the the election of Abune Paulos is invalid, he has many churches still loyal to him. That in a nutshell is why they have two jurisdictions, one the COC acknowledges and the is seen as invalid.
As something similiar.
We'll pray for our Eritrean brethren that these difficulties pass quickly.
posted on Sep 02, 2005 - 12:32 AM
Ummm...hi guys....
Here's the latest info. Very very interesting:
http://news9.asmarino.com/content/view/518/86/
Government denying any problems going on in the Eritrean Orthodox Church.
God bless.
posted on Sep 03, 2005 - 01:08 AM
Me culpa (or aiernobi if you prefer) Paisios is right is was five bishops on the council that adminstered the church during His Holiness, though not all bishops were put in jail many bishops (I can speak of those of Upper Egypt with surety) were shadowed by Egyptian security forces.
Peter as for the the tensions between HE Archbishop Yesehaq and HH Abune Paulus, I can only speculate since the Ethiopian clergy I know really don't speak of it or down play any problems. It could be as you say or that since he invested by the Derg-placed hierarchy there might be sympathies, Or it could be his embracing of the Rasta community has put at odds with more orthodox factions, though I don't this since his mission was to bring the Rastas more inline with the church.
Can anybody in the NJ/NY area get a hold of HG Anba Macarius and ask him, seeing he is officially General Bishop Overseeing All Eritreans in North America. (it sucks being in MA cut off from all my sources & connections)
posted on Sep 04, 2005 - 04:23 AM
Well I found out what H.H. Pope Shenounda told the preists of North America at there annual seminar. He basically said that the Coptic Church stands by and supports HH Abune Antonios and that his name should still be remembered in the prayer for the patriarch. (For those who are unaware or their church does not do it; in the seven litanies, the second one where we pray for His Holiness, the current rubric is to also commemorate the names of the Syriac patriarch, Mor Ignatius Zakka Awas I, and the Eritrean patriarch, Abune Antonious.)
I will be praying a liturgy tomorrow/today (depending on your time zone)with HG Anba Macarius so hopefully I will be able to get his opinion on things and get back with any news/new information.
posted on Sep 06, 2005 - 10:02 PM
Unfortunately I was not able to get any info from His Grace, (my brief conversation with him consisted of me being berated by him for various thing such why I don't come down to NJ more often and why didn't he see me at this years clergy seminar. Most of my conversations with bishops seem to involve me being berated for one thing or other)
Though I did find out that according to HG Bishop Youannes ,HH's secretary, the His Holiness did not and will probably not issue an official statement. The reason is the involvement and approval the Eritrean Holy Synod; so in essence, despite the involvement of the gov't (a nominally Christian gov't at that), this becomes an internal church matter. Any official statement would then be seen as interfence in the workings of an autocephalous church by another church. Though if things change or there are further developements, His Holiness may then make a statement but as it stands no statement.
posted on Sep 17, 2005 - 12:38 AM
In the second page of el Keraza, Pope Shenouda wrote under the picture Of Abouna Antonios Patriarch of Eritrea:
Pray for HH Abuna Antonios Patriarch of Eritrea
Beacause he is having a hard time for more than 2 months. May God deliver him from his struggle.
And the Coptic Church continually remember his name in her liturgies.
_________________
Maran Atha
Origenos Piremrakoti
posted on Sep 20, 2007 - 05:33 PM
Hey guys... if you have a chance, please sign this petition!
http://www.abuneantonios.com/petition.php
Take care and God bless...
_________________
*My deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, my deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure...*
*The penalty of sin is to face, not the anger of Jesus, but the heartbreak in his eyes...*
*God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts*
*Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.*
posted on Apr 14, 2008 - 11:43 AM
sorry to tell you guys but they hvae appointed a new patriarch...abune dioskoros is the patriarch of the eritrien orthodox church.Our church still sees abune atonios as the patriarch of the eritrean orthodx chhurch. The COC does not sccept abune dioskorus
asinner
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in christ
asinner
A member of the HCOC (The Heritage of the Coptic Orthodox Choir)
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