The Ethiopian Church officially declared reunification in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

It is now official. Ethiopian Orthodox Church (Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church) is reunited and there will be two more Synods

borkena
July 26,2018

The negotiation process that lasted many years to end the schism within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church of Tewahdo (otherwise known as the Ethiopian Church) has come to an end

and patriarchate delegates in Ethiopia and those in the United States. , over the past 26 years, has officially declared the reunification today of the Water Gate Hotel in Washington DC in the presence of the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who is accused of having accelerated the process.

Abune Abraham, who is a bishop for Bahir Dar and a member of the Ethiopian delegation, read the main points of agreement that reunited the divided Ethiopian church.

(Credit: Ethiopian Satellite Television)
Abune Merkorios was The fourth patriarch of Ethiopia was forced to leave his patriarchate in Addis Ababa because of political pressure exerted by the ruling party. Former Prime Minister Tamrat Layne gave his testimony on this and the faithful of the Holy Synod followed him to the United States. States to reorganize the patriarchate of exile that he led for the last twenty-six years.

According to the new agreement that ended the schism, Abune Merkorios must return to Ethiopia as a patriarch with all spiritual honors and serve the Ethiopian Church as a spiritual father focusing on the main prayers and blessing his laity. His residence is in the Patriarch's Palace in Arat Kilo in the capital Addis Ababa.

The sixth patriarch of the Ethiopian church, Abune Mathias, sits since 2013 after the death of the fifth patriarch, Abune Paulos, is also to remain as a patriarch of the church focusing on administrative issues according to the canons of the church. Obviously, the situation is in violation of the canons of the Holy Synod, according to which the patriarch can not be appointed as long as a patriarch is alive. However, the delegates reached an understanding that the spiritual laws governing the Holy Synod have been violated since the time of the second patriarch, Abune Tewoflos, who was forcibly expelled and killed by the Revolutionary Government of Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam

. The names of the two patriarchs should be quoted at a Mbad in the Ethiopian Church, either in Ethiopia or abroad. A special welcome ceremony is to be held at Abune Merkorios and a committee is formed in Ethiopia to fulfill this function

The church is also to hold a unity conference in which it will celebrate reunification and lift excommunications .

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who was present at the ceremony said that he was delighted with the result of the reconciliation effort. "We want the unity of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church because the church is a country," added Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He also pointed out that division within the church over the last 26 years has harmed Ethiopia.

The reunification of the church, thinks Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, could also lay the foundations for peace in Ethiopia. , we know that there will be another event at Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa to celebrate achievement in terms of bringing peace to the Church.

And there is unconfirmed information that Abune Merkorios could return to Ethiopia with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed next week.

Join the conversation. Like borkena on Facebook and regularly receive news from Ethiopian News. In addition, you can get news from Ethiopia by following us on twitter @zborkena