Patriarch Abune Matthias Receives Israeli Foreign Minister

ESG – OCP News Service – 09/05/2025

Addis Ababa- Ethiopia: His Holiness Patriarch-Catholicos Abune Matthias of  the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, graciously received the Honourable Gideon Sa’ar, Foreign Minister of Israel, at the Patriarchate in Addis Ababa on 6 May 2025. The Israeli delegation also included Dr. Avraham Neguise, Israel’s Ambassador to Ethiopia.

The meeting provided an opportunity for fruitful dialogue on the longstanding spiritual, historical, and cultural bonds between Ethiopia and Israel. Particular attention was given to the status of Deir es-Sultan Monastery in Jerusalem and the situation of other Ethiopian Orthodox monastic communities within the Holy Land.

This visit comes after a prior meeting held on 13 February 2025, during which His Holiness welcomed Her Excellency Sharren Miriam Haskel-Harpaz, Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel. That encounter focused on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a matter of deep concern to the Patriarch-Catholicos, especially regarding the safeguarding of Ethiopian religious heritage in the region.

Notably, His Holiness Patriarch-Catholicos Abune Matthias previously served as Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Israel, lending him profound understanding of the challenges faced by the faithful there.

The latest exchange further strengthens dialogue and cooperation between the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the State of Israel, rooted in a shared historical and spiritual legacy.

Sources: Secretariat His Holinees Abune Matthias,OCP News Service