Ethiopian Government Allows Re-entry of Three EOTC Archbishops to Attend Synodal Meeting

ESG – OCP News Service – 15/05/2025

Addis Ababa- Ethiopia: In a significant development for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, three Archbishops who had previously been banned from entering Ethiopia were allowed re-entry on Thursday morning (May 15, 2025) following an appeal from the Acting Synod and cooperation from government authorities. The Archbishops permitted to enter the country include Their Eminences Abune Petros (PhD), General Secretary of the Holy Synod and Archbishop of New York and Its Surroundings; Abune Yacob, Archbishop of Georgia and Its Surroundings; and Abune Theophilos (PhD), Archbishop of Northern California, Nevada, and Arizona. In an official statement, the Acting Synod expressed deep gratitude for the government’s decision, emphasizing the importance of the Archbishops’ presence at the upcoming biannual Holy Synod meeting.

Upon their arrival at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, the Archbishops were warmly received by His Eminence Abune Abraham, the Head of the Patriarchate, along with other dignitaries and fellow Archbishops. The biannual Holy Synod meeting that started on Wednesday and which brings together Archbishops and Bishops from across the globe to discuss matters of faith and governance within the Church, is expected to address several pressing issues impacting the Ethiopian Orthodox community both domestically and internationally. The return of the three Archbishops is viewed as a crucial step towards fostering unity and cooperation within the Church as it navigates different challenges.