The Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Excommunicated 4 Archbishops, 10 Monks, and 1 Clergyman

ESG – OCP News Service – 03/08/2023

Addis Ababa- Ethiopia: On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, in Its immediate session that was called on July 24, 2023, in regards to the uncanonical ordination of bishops in Tigray Regional State that transpired in Axum, St. Mary of Zion Monastery, on Sundays July 23 and 30, passed ex-communications over four Archbishops, ten monks, and one coordinator who orchestrated the uncanonical election of ten, and dissenting ordination of nine monastics as Episcopi.

The excommunicated personalities are:
1. The formerly named Abune Isayas of the Diocese of Mekelle
2. The formerly named Abune Mekarios of the Diocese of Central Tigray, Axum
3. The formerly named Abune Merhakirstos of the Diocese of Adigrat
4. The formerly named Abune Petros of the Diocese of Shire Enda Selassie
5. The formerly named Abba ZeSelassie Markos
6. The formerly named Abba Haile Michael Aregai
7. The formerly named Abba Estifanos Gebre Giorgis
8. The formerly named Abba Mehari Habtom
9. The formerly named Abba Elias Tadesse
10. The formerly named Abba Tsegegenet Kidane Welde
11. The formerly named Abba Zera Dawit Brihane
12. The formerly named Abba Yohannes Kebede
13. The formerly named Abba Yemanebrihan Welde Samuel
14. The formerly named Abba Sereqebrihan Welde Samuel and
15. The formerly named Memher Tesfaye Hadera.

The Holy Synod deliberated the excommunications following the opening remarks of His Holiness and after detailed discussions on the dogmas, canons, historical and traditional documents were held with the participation of the administrative council of the patriarchate, the council of scholars, the department of law and the main committee of lawyers, and the external affairs department of the patriarchate.

The Synod stated that the acts of the former archbishops were unsynodical, unlawful, and uncanonical in electing ten monks as bishop-designates and making illegal ordinations. It also said that the deeds renounced the apostolicity of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in creating an illegitimate “See” called “Menbere/See of Selama,” which It denounced and called the appointing of the “ordained” to dioceses beyond uncanonicity, directed to divide the Universal Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church which erodes and ends the country’s unity and creates quarrel amongst clergymen, scholars, and the youths. The Synod also called the actions of the former archbishops antichristian as their contravention had ignored pre-war efforts of the Church, the support It provided, efforts after the war, and the pushing aside of the public apology of the Holy Synod.

And quoting Article 16 Sub-article 30, Article 31 Sub-articles 1 and 3, Article 37 Sub-article 1, and Article 18 Sub-article 5 of Church Law, the Holy Synod charged the archbishops, the uncanonical appointees, and the organizers of disobeying the sovereign right given to the Holy Synod to decide on the nomination and ordination of bishops, accused the renegade factions of denigrating His Holiness, and brought forth the aptness of excommunicating such archbishops or bishops.

Hence, basing Feteh Menfesawi (The Nomocanon) Article 5 Sub-article 138, the Holy Synod excommunicated the four former archbishops (former Abune Isayas, Abune Mekarios, Abune Merhakirstos, and Abune Petros) for appointing nine episcopi, and for creating a spurious “synod” and removed all their ecclesiastical titles ordering that they be called by their surnames (given names). It also ruled that they should never receive any service from the Church, alive or departed. Nevertheless, the Synod added that if the wrongdoers returned to the Church penitent per the canons, the Church’s doors will be open.

The Holy Synod also excommunicated the nine monks who transgressed the canons of the Church by receiving unlawful consecrations and added to the anathema Abba Sereqebrihan Welde Samuel, who was elected a bishop-designate, who called Ethiopia “Jezebel” and who stated that he had dogmatic differences with the EOTC, for leading the dissent from its inception. It also excommunicated Memher Tesfaye Hadera for being a chief executive and giving press releases for the so-called “Menbere Selama”. The Synod further noted that they were banned from receiving any service from the Church, alive or dead. However, if they returned penitent per the canons, the Church’s doors will be open to them.

The Synod also stated that the EOTC does not accept the spurious “See” – “Menbere Selama,” which is unknown in the Tradition of the Ethiopian Church, or in the Traditions of the early Churches, or does not have any religious base, and is outside the canons, and befuddles the administrative structure of the Church. In addition, the Holy Synod denounced it as an unlawful structure that was created based on ethnic lines outside the one, holy, apostolic, and universal Church’s dogma, history, canons, administration, and law. Thus, It resolved that this be announced in letters to all concerned that it (Menbere Selama) does not represent in any capacity the Church as it distorts Christian Tradition and Apostolic basis.

The Holy Synod also called on the scholars, monks, clergy, youths, the faithful, and spiritual associations to defend the Church by following up and overseeing organizations and individuals that give support in different ways to the unlawful factions. The Church also called on the scholars to provide answers for the hearsay they raise. It similarly called on the faithful, the clergy, spiritual associations, and those that are friends of the Church to all pray, fast, and keep the mission and structure of the Church, and to unify in dismantling detrimental disinformation, to give clarifications, and to bring to discussion matters persistently until the whole safety of the Church is guaranteed.

The Synod likewise called on government bodies at different levels and Church officials to follow up and execute that the Church’s legal name not be used by the dissenters initially or terminally, in part or full, with additions or deletions, and that they not use the Church’s insignia, or Its address, or Its vestments or holy vessels that are used for worship or to conduct rites and that this be done under the patriarchate through proper legal procedures nationally, and internationally.

The Holy Synod also stated that contacts in the name of the Church could not be made by these excommunicated individuals who do not represent the Church in any capacity and that they do not have affiliation with the Church any longer, and that they cannot have communication in the name of the Church with government or non-government organizations, sister Churches, Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Roman Catholic Church, other Churches, with the World Council of Churches (WCC), with All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), with other Church Councils, and Assemblies.

The Holy Synod added that the acts of these individuals did not represent the people of Tigray, who are wise, love their faith, and honor their fathers. And that the individuals transgressed out of their own hunger for power illegally and uncanonically.

Furthermore, the Synod stated that this illegal structure (the spurious “See”) had been thought of for a long time and was supported by different politicians and government officials throughout the years concealed and that It denounces it.

The Holy Synod also put out a call to peace to all parties involved in unrest and conflict in the different parts of the country and to solve matters in dialogue and forgiveness.

The Holy Synod correspondingly decided to establish a main committee for peace and to find lasting solutions that will include archbishops, scholars of the Church, elders, and intellectuals.
Last, of all, the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church expressed thanks to all those that showed support and stood by the Church for Its unity and sovereignty and asked to continue with their support and prayers.

Sources:
– EOTC TV (EOTC Broadcasting Service)
– EOTC Public Relations Department
– Mahibere Kidusan Broadcasting Service
– Tewahedo Media Center

OCP News Service