A Priest and His Entire Family Slain in East Shewa, Oromia, Ethiopia

ESG – OCP News Service – 27/09/2024

Addis Ababa- Ethiopia: An elderly priest, his wife, and three children among which was a deacon named Meleak Welde Iyesus, were killed in a horrific manner on Thursday, September 26, 2024.

Fr. Welde Iyesus Ayalew, the deceased, had served in district of Mojo Lume at the Church of Bika Debre Mewi Saint Michael from the office of the deaconate to the rank of rector for 41 years. A funeral service for the victims was held at Mojo Holy Trinity Church on Friday, September 27, 2024 with the presence of His Grace Abune Gorgorios the Archbishop of East Shewa Diocese and Head of Zeway Clerical Leadership College.

This targeted attack comes in the wake of another that took the lives of five Orthodox faithful in Jena Gemsa locality of Robe district in Eastern Arsi Zone of Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia on Friday, September 6, 2024, where the whereabouts of two faithful was not known and the properties of Christians were burned.

Sources:
East Shoa Diocese Public Relation
Tewahedo Media Center