The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church is part of the Oriental Orthodox communion, and it was granted autocephaly by Shenouda III, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, in 1994 — a year after Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia. Shenouda III ordained five Eritrean high-ranking clergy as Bishops of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church on 19 June 1994 in Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt. This would allow the formation of a local Holy Synod for Eritrea. Shenouda III also agreed that a newly elected Patriarch would be able to consecrate on his own new bishops and metropolitans for the Eritrean Church. The Patriarch of Eritrea also carries the title of Abuna in line with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
Abuna of Eritrea | |
|---|---|
| Bishopric | |
| oriental | |
 Eritrean Cross (identical to the Coptic cross) | |
| Incumbent: Vacant Since 2 December 2022 | |
| Style | His Holiness |
| Information | |
| First holder | Phillipos |
| Established | 7 May 1999 |
| Cathedral | Enda Mariam Cathedral, Asmara |
| Website | |
| lisantewahdo | |
After declaration of autocephaly of the church in 1994, the position of Patriarch of Eritrea remained vacant until 1999 when Phillipos became the first Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
Patriarchs of Eritrea
edit| No. | Portrait | Abuna (Birth–Death) |
Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phillipos (1901–2002) |
1999–2001 | Born in Endadeko as Tewolde Berhan | |
| 2 | Yacob (1924–2003) |
2002–2003 | ||
| 3 | Antonios (1929–2022) |
2004–2006 | Deposed by the Eritrean government;[1] under house arrest since January 2006. Born in Hembrti as Gebremedin Debretsion | |
| 4 | Dioskoros (1934–2015) |
2007–2015 | Reign disputed by followers of Abune Antonios.[2] Born as Diosqoros Hagos Mendefera | |
| 5 | Qerlos (1927–2022) |
2020–2022 | Reign disputed by followers of Abune Antonios until 2022.[3][4] |
Timeline
edit
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Orthodox patriarch of Eritrea sacked". 1 February 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
- ^ Cole, Ethan (29 May 2007). "Eritrea installs controversial new orthodox patriarch". Christian Post.
- ^ "Abune Qerlos Elected as 5th Patriarch". Ministry of Information of Eritrea. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
- ^ "Official Consecration of His Reverend Abune Qerlos, 5th Patriarch of Eritrea". Ministry of Information of Eritrea. Retrieved 2021-06-15.