[ad_1]
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has overseen the reunification of two feuding wings of the world's oldest christian churches, his top help said Friday.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church split in 1991 over the naming of a new patriarch After the Ethiopian People's Democratic Revolutionary Front (EPRDF) removed the Derg military junta from power.
Dissidents founded a breakaway church based in the United States under the exiled form patriarch, after leadership church role is held for life
Talks between the two synods have been going on for years. Abiy, a reformist new premiere, is credited with speeding up the peace process, which culminated on Thursday in his maiden visit to the United States.
Abiy oversaw reunification ceremony in Washington, attended by priests in black flowing and red dresses, state media reported.
"After significant mediation efforts, PM Abiy witnessed in DC the reunification of the Synods of the #Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The 2 Synods are reunited into one Holy Synod after 27 years," his chief of staff Fitsum Arega wrote on Twitter.
Further details of the reunification and how it would work in practice
Tracing its roots back to the fourth century, the Orthodox church is Ethiopia's largest, gathering 38 million people, according to to the World Council of Churches.
The country is a growing Protestant population that includes the prime minister.
"Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed said it is im It is possible to think of Ethiopia from the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which is said to be of great importance, "the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation said.
" While noting that the reconciliation event marks a historic jump, The Prime Minister said, "The broadcaster said.
It added:" The unification and reconciliation committee extended its deepest gratitude to Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed for his significant efforts during the reconciliation process. " 19659013] Since taking office in April, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has prioritized the reconciliation between dissidents and the EPRDF, which has held power unopposed for 27 years.
release
Earlier this week, he called for "multi-party democracy," a stunning shift for the EPRDF which has been in power He has also opened the doors to reconciliation with neighboring Eritrea
The visit to the US is set to be something of an offensive charm for Abiy.
After his arrival in Washington, Reuben E. Brigety II, to form American ambbadador to the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia, tweeting a photo showing the prime minister smiling and holding hands with a lone protester who greeted him outside the Ethiopian embbady.
He is also visiting diaspora communities in Los Angeles and the state of Minnesota in a visit to the Ethiopian government "Tear down barriers, and build bridges!"
Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians live in the US, among the many journalists and politicians who have fallen out with the EPRDF.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is one of the world's oldest christian congregations
Source link
