Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Concludes Synod with Key Appointments and a Call for Peace

ESG – OCP News Service – 03/06/2025

Addis Ababa- Ethiopia: The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church concluded its biannual synodal meeting on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 with significant appointments and a series of resolutions aimed at bolstering national peace and internal reform. The meeting, held from May 14 to 27 in Addis Ababa, began with an address from His Holiness Abune Matthias, the Patriarch of the Church. The assembly established a “Committee for National Peace and Church Unity,” tasked with fostering lasting peace, curbing hatred, and addressing ongoing conflicts within the country. The committee is delegated with implementing awareness training and discussion panels, and providing quarterly reports to the Acting Synod. The Holy Synod additionally instructed that Saint Paul’s Theological Seminary in Addis Ababa begin offering degree programs. It also decided that the national assembly of Cenobitic Monasteries, recently convened for the first time, become an annual event, with issues raised and that would be raised to be and be addressed by the Patriarchate.

The Synod also acknowledged Addis Ababa City Administration on Corridor Development Projects for providing compensation for Church properties demolished, for replacement lots provided, and the rebuilding of the “Tsereha Menilik” on a new lot with government funds. The Corridor Development Projects in the capital and across the country however have faced criticisms from Amnesty International and residents for alleged human rights violations.

The Synod further created a Fund-Raising Committee aimed at generating resources for Church projects, calling upon the faithful to contribute both financially and with expertise. The Synod also took significant administrative actions following an investigation led by a delegation of Archbishops that revealed problems within the Addis Ababa Diocese; consequently, administrators were removed, and a directive to create a committee was given to assess issues at various levels of the diocese, ensuring that corrective measures are implemented. Additionally, the Synod mandated the publication of Mariological and Christological explanations that were presented at the inaugural “Remembering Nicaea” assembly of scholars, which involved exegetical, hymnal, liturgical, and poetical teachers, and It scheduled the gathering to occur twice a year prior to the Synodal Assembly, both at the national and diocesan levels. Furthermore, it was decided that Menagesha Amba Mariam Monastery and Debre Medhanit Medhanealem Cenobitic Monastery which are historical to be unified under a single administration with one abbot as a cenobitic monastery.

The Holy Synod also addressed administrative and canonical discrepancies in the Holy Land of Jerusalem, particularly regarding the sending of Ethiopian monks, and preserving centrality. It transferred the Archbishop, His Eminence Abune Enbakom, from Jerusalem to Head of the Department of Monasteries at the Patriarchate, and appointed a committee led by archbishops to revise the existing statutes for the cloisters of Jerusalem. The Synod additionally announced a budget of 5.4 billion Birr for the 2025/26 fiscal year, alongside directives to rectify ongoing construction issues at the Holy Trinity Theological University, and to prevent dioceses from incurring loans against Church assets. Furthermore, based on a report submitted regarding the Housing and Buildings Administration Development Organization of the Church, the Holy Synod issued instructions to correct the gaps in the work and to hold officials at all levels accountable for their mistakes and to correct them.

The assembly elected His Eminence Abune Dioscorus ( the Archbishop of Southern Zone Maichew, South Eastern Tigray, and Raya Dioceses, Head of the Patriarchate’s Department of Heritage Conservation, Libraries and Museums, and Head of the Department of Associations) as the Secretary General of the Synod and His Eminence Abune Sawiros (the Archbishop of Southwestern Shewa and Sheger City Dioceses, and the Head of Meskaye Hezunan Medhanealem Monastery) as the head of the Patriarchate. The latter appointment raised eyebrows from the faithful, as Abune Sawiros had previously led a schismatic faction two years ago based on ethnic lines that had caused unrest within the Church that caused the loss of lives of the faithful after uncanonical ordination of “bishops” which was resolved with reconciliation after national and international pressure. Both archbishops have previously (terms ended six years ago) worked as General Manager of the Patriarchate and the Secretary of the Synod respectively.

In connection with the transfer of various ecclesiastical leaders, the Holy Synod appointed His Eminence Abune Hiryakos as the Archbishop of the Addis Ababa Diocese, in addition to overseeing the Hadiya and Siltie Dioceses. Meanwhile, His Eminence Abune Nathanael (ordained by His Holiness Abune Merkorios) has been appointed as the Archbishop of the Holy Land, Jerusalem, transitioning from Colorado, USA. Additionally, His Eminence Abune Henok has been appointed as the Archbishop of South and West Africa after being transferred from Addis Ababa due to administrative challenges. And His Eminence Abune Nathanael (ordained by His Holiness Abune Matthias) will continue to serve as the Archbishop of Minnesota while also taking on responsibilities for the Diocese of Colorado. In regards to content of faith, His Grace Abune Gabriel, the Bishop of West Shewa diocese, who had preached Solus Christus lenient and other Protestant-oriented teachings that diminished the significance of the Virgin Mary, the Saints, and Holy Tradition; His Eminence Abune Filipos, the Archbishop of Southern Omo and Ari Zones, who had preached, in a zeal for the Virgin, a Christological error concerning the pre-existence of the Logos; and His Eminence Abune Barnabas, the Archbishop of the Diocese of Southern California, who also delivered several sermons that were lenient towards reformed protestant theology (Solus Christus), asked for forgiveness for their erroneous teachings disseminated through various media outlets. Their admission of guilt followed a significant outcry from the faithful, and a synodal mandated investigation by the Council of Scholars, which outlined the hierarchs’ errors.

The Holy Synod accepted the apologies from the two Archbishops and the Bishop and ordered the Archbishops and the Bishop to issue corrective messages to reassure the faithful through the Church’s broadcasting media. Additionally, the Synod emphasized that future statements and teachings representing the Church to be made with utmost caution. The Holy Synod issued a strong warning to unnamed individuals and groups, both domestically and internationally, who It accused of disseminating false and inappropriate claims that tarnish the reputation of the Church, the Holy Synod, and the work of Its leaders. It stated that such entities were using social media to share statements in ways that violate spiritual and ethical standards. The Holy Synod emphasized the need for peace to put an end to the conflicts and displacements occurring in some regions of the country. It highlighted the importance of respecting the right of individuals to live freely, preserving human dignity, and fostering a society where all citizens coexist in equality, harmony, and love, with conflicts being addressed through dialogue. Moreover, it pointed out that conflict, hatred, and violence not only inflict physical harm and damage property but also fail to bring true honor or lasting peace; instead, they breed ongoing resentment and cycles of revenge.