His Holiness Abune Matthias Receives Malankara Orthodox Church Delegation

ESG – OCP News Service – 28/01/2025

Addis Ababa- Ethiopia: A delegation from the Malankara Orthodox Church visited the Ethiopian Patriarchate in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, aiming at reinforcing the longstanding fraternal bond between the Malankara Indian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The two Churches, which share the same dogmatic teachings, have seen their bilateral relations disrupted after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The delegation, sent by His Holiness Marthoma Mathews III, was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Geevarghese Yulious of Kunamkulam and included Fr. Dr. Jossi Jacob, a former faculty of Holy Trinity University in Addis Ababa. The delegation was warmly received by His Holiness Abune Matthias, the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

During the meeting, Metropolitan Yulious presented a message and a gift from His Holiness Marthoma Mathews III to His Holiness Abune Matthias. The Metropolitan expressed admiration for the Patriarch’s dedicated efforts in promoting peace, freedom, and justice around the world, emphasizing that the Malankara Indian Orthodox Church would support these noble causes in cooperation with the Ethiopian Church.

His Holiness Abune Matthias, in turn, expressed his deep joy at the visit and underscored the importance of strengthening the relationship between the two Churches. He affirmed that the bilateral relations would continue to grow, driven by the decisions of the Holy Synod.

The delegation expressed heartfelt gratitude for the warm spiritual welcome that they received and conveyed their hopes for future patriarchal apostolic visits from both Churches. In attendance at the meeting were His Eminence Abune Abraham, His Eminence Abune Melketsedek, and other senior officials from the Ethiopian Patriarchate.

This meeting marks a significant step toward furthering the cooperation between the Malankara Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, promising a renewed commitment to shared faith and mutual support in the years to come.

Source:
His Holiness’ Secretariat