The Case of Abune Antonios and the ‘Prolonged Silence’ of Oriental Orthodox Churches

OCP News Service – 19/2/22

Global: Abune Antonios the 3rd canonical Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church passed away a few days back after suffering the consequences of objecting to the State dictatorship for over 14 years. The late head of the Eritrean Church was detained and house arrested in 2006/2007 for his bold stand against the interference of the Afwerki Regime in the internal affairs of the Church.

Patriarch Abune Antonios – A True Christian Martyr and a Victim of the State Dictatorship

Even though he was a political and religious prisoner in his own domicile, lamentably, the rest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches maintained a prolonged silence on his case. This doesn’t mean that all mechanisms of the Oriental Churches were ever silent. However, there was an absence of a unified call for the release of the late head of the Eritrean Church from his detention until his demise (2006/2007 to 2022). It is also important to note tall Oriental Churches continued to recognize Abune Antonios as the canonical Patriarch.

The late Coptic Pope Shenouda III denounced the unfair deposition of Patriarch Abune Antonios by the Eritrean regime. Archbishop Angelos of London urged a few times to restore Abune Antonios as well. The Coptic Church also ordained Bishop Makarios for the US diaspora of Eritrean Orthodox Christians who supported Abune Antonios. The Eritrean Orthodox Diocese of North America under the leadership of Abune Makarios has been involved in the case of Abune Antonios as well.

The ‘Night’ Before the Dialogue with the Vatican

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church had several difficulties right from the beginning of the separation of the Eritrean Church. However, the Ethiopian Church continue to accommodate Eritrean faithful in their Churches. Ethiopia on the other hand has accommodated a large number of Eritrean refugees. The Armenian, Syriac, and Malankara Churches remained silent about the case of Abune Antonios. Moreover, the sad plight of the Eritrean Church seemed to be a case of less interest for the Oriental Orthodox communion. Nevertheless, it was reported by some of the Malankara sources that the late Catholicos-Mooppan Marthoma Paulose II initiated a personal discussion with Bishop Makarios (USA) on the situation of Abune Antonios during a meeting held in Cairo in 2012.

Two gatherings of the heads of Oriental Churches (the Ethiopian Patriarch could not attend due to emergency situation back home) took place during the last 7 years. In 2015 they gathered to commemorate the 100 anniversary of the Armenian genocide in Yerevan. The Oriental Primates also gathered in Germany in 2017 and took part in the 100th Anniversary of Christian reformation in Europe and participated in the international conference titled ‘Middle East Christians.’ Nevertheless, there was no mention of the Eritrean Patriarch and the suffering of the Eritrean people in any of these gatherings. The world is well aware of the sufferings and persecution faced by Christians in the Middle East. Let us also remember that the life and safety of African Christians are also equally important.

Reflections on the future of the Oriental Orthodox Communion

Upon his demise, the Coptic and Malankara Churches issued formal statements. Bishop Daniel Findikyan of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church also issued a statement. A few individual commemorations from Oriental Churches were also circulated online.

Every church has its own priorities. However many a time, it’s being felt that the wider Oriental communion fails to prioritize and respond to critical issues, for example, the persecution of the Eritrean Church. While persecution of Christians in the Middle East, difficulties faced by Armenian Christians in Turkey and in Europe especially Karabakh, issues of Coptic Christians in Egypt and sufferings of Ethiopian Christians received considerable media attention, the case of the Eritrean Church and its late primate remained a meek affair. The case of Eritrea is not completely out of the question, as the strong Eritrean diaspora and democracy supporters keep the discussion alive.

Efforts and Responses
The Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches in America (SCOOCH) published several statements supporting Abune Antonios. Abba Seraphim, the head of the British Orthodox Church (formerly a part of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate and presently an independent Church) made several attempts for the release of the late Abune Antonios. Several governmental, independent, secular agencies and media houses such as Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE), United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Church in Chains, Eritrea Hub, Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society called for the release of Abune Antonios on several occasions. Many of these organizations have been publishing regular updates on the condition of the Abune Antonios and on the sad plight of Eritrean people, especially on the difficulties encountered by Christians in the country.

“Christians in Nigeria are Slaughtered Like Animals” – OCP Secretary

Not only Eritrean Christians, rather a major chunk of African Christians are living under daily nightmares. Christians and butchered like animals in Nigeria and elsewhere in the Continent. Even the Christian majority in Ethiopia is being threatened by their existence. African Christians require special attention and help to survive.

Christians in Nigeria Continue to Encounter Severe Persecution

Source:
OCP News Service