“I Am Worried About What Happened to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church” – Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia

Menetasnot Desta – Delegate of Horn of Africa & Head of Ethiopian Affairs – OCP News Service– 04/02/2023

Addis-Ababa-Ethiopia: Russian Federation Parliament member and the Russian ambassador to Ethiopia visited H.H Abuna Mathias I, Patriarch of the EOTC in his office on February 03, 2023. On their visit, they expressed their solidarity with the Patriarch and the Church on the current situation.

A day before the visit, Ambassador Evgeny Terekhin had an interview with MK tv, a church television owned by the Mahibere Kidisuan Association.

During his interview with the media, he raised the strong relations between the Ethiopian and Russians which were strengthened by spiritual ties. The EOTC documented the history of the country and preserved the ecology before the government launched “a green legacy.”

The Ambassador said that, as an Orthodox Christian, he was worried about what happened in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Ambassador Evgeny Turkhin added that, in the past, the Russian Orthodox Church has shown their solidarity by expressing their sympathy to the Holy Patriarch during a difficult time for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and it will be sustained in the future too. He added that they need to be careful that the demolition of this Church means the demolition of the country.

He also called for the Fathers and the faithful of the church to keep their unity. “I want to assure you that we are on your side in this process,” he said.

Source:
OCP News Service