Archbishops in Tigray Uncanonically Elected Ten Bishop Designates

ESG – OCP News Service – 16/07/2023

Addis Ababa- Ethiopia: On Sunday, July 16, 2023, renegade archbishops, namely Abune Isayas, Abune Mekarios, Abune Petros, and Abune Merhakirstos, of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church who established a schismatic “See” in Tigray led the uncanonical election of 10 monks out of 26 candidates with the participation of a handful of scholars, elders, a little more than a hundred partakers, and observers in Axum. The monks are to be ordained as “bishops” by the newest schismatics which the Ethiopian Holy Synod had called unlawful and asked the regional and national governments to stop the proceedings thereof and aid reconciliation in a press release on July 12, 2023.

A week ago, on Monday, July 10, 2023, a peace delegation led by His Holiness Abune Mathias, the Patriarch, went to Tigray for discussions with the archbishops but was met by closed doors. It is the second time this year that the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has faced a schism based on ethnic lines.

The “elected” monks are as follows.

1. Abba ZeSelassie Markos
2. Abba Haile Michael Aregai
3. Abba Estifanos Gebre Giorgis
4. Abba Mehari Habte (Nibure Id)
5. Abba Elias Gebre Kidan
6. Abba ZeraDawit Brehane
7. Abba Yemanebrihan Welde Samuel
8. Abba Tsegegenet Kidane Welde
9. Abba Sereqebrihan Welde Samuel
10. Abba Yohannes Kebede

The first five were “elected” to serve in Tigray while the later five were “elected” from the 26 candidates to serve the Tigrayan diaspora.

Sources:  Dimtsi Weyane , Tigrai Television and EOTC Broadcasting Service

OCP News Service