Download MP3 Audio (.mp3)| The Eritrean Government has decided on Consecration of a Patriarch for the Eritrean Orthodox Church |
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| Monday, 23 April 2007 | |
 Yesterday,
April 19, 2007, in a convocation attended by government authorities, Mr. Yoftahe
Dimetros, the lay political appointee who serves as the highest administrator of
the Eritrean Orthodox Church, and his handler, Security Chief Semere Beyen,
rounded up the reluctant bishops that make up the rump synod and made the much
anticipated announcement. .
The announcement that was presented to the assemblage
as an accomplished fact simply stated, “Abba Dioscoros, the former bishop of the
Mendefera region, has been chosen to serve as Eritrea’s next patriarch. When the
bishops in attendance expressed a desire to bring the matter to a deliberation,
they were told that the announcement was not open for further discussionThis nefarious imposition on the Church is the work of the above two mentioned individuals, with the bishops having absolutely no part in the decision. Mr. Dimetros and Co. took this shameful step, as always, on the behest of the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), the ruling party, to implement its designs of destroying the Eritrean Orthodox Church. The Eritrean people should be aware that the rights and beliefs of the two-million strong church have been flagrantly violated once again; and the hijacking of the church by the government that has been underway for quite sometime is now completed. According to the constitution, church canon and tradition, no patriarch can be consecrated while a patriarch is still alive. This has been the stand of the church since its founding two thousand years ago, and which the fathers have maintained as a sacred principle. The consecration and enthronement that will soon be underway, is therefore not only shameful, but illegal as well. This has caused unimaginable pain to the faithful of the church that are witnessing the rape of the church helplessly. At the moment, there is very little the people can do except look to the heavens with tears in their eyes. The day of reckoning when all the truth will be revealed, however, cannot be far off. It should be known to everyone that Abba Dioscoros has long sold his soul to Mr. Yoftahe, the devil incarnate. In the last two years, he has been at Mr. Yoftahe, the patriarch-maker’s feet in the foolish hope of being the next patriarch. It should further be noted that this has been accomplished without the consent of the bishops or the faithful. Abba Dioscoros is expected to be consecrated on the day of Pentecost (Be’ale Hamsa). It is to be remembered that His Holiness Abune Antonios, the legitimate Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church – now under house arrest – was enthroned in 2004. He was elected by the bishops unanimously. The abbots of all the monasteries in Eritrea and a large number of representatives of the members of the Eritrean Orthodox Churches had also taken active part. Moreover, [based on the historic relationship and the 1994 protocol between the Eritrean Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church], Pope Shenouda, Patriarch of the Coptic Church along with a large delegation were present for the occasion. This time, Eritrea will have a government appointed Patriarch. We ask everyone to pray for our beloved Church in her hour of great
tribulations. May God keep and protect her. |
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