Originally written on 24-08-2005.

Release Eritrea strongly denounces the striping of Abuna Antonios’( the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Eritrea) Patriarchal authority. A letter smuggled out of the Patriarch’s office indicates that a congress of the Holy Synod convened on the 7th of August ‘authorised’ the deposition which was outlined in a letter, dated the 9th of August, obtained by Asmarino Independent News.

It is stated that, at the Holy Synod the gathered abbots were simply read a series of accusations against the Patriarch and told that, as of that meeting his holiness was no longer to perform any of his duties as patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox church. It appears that the meeting was convened and chaired by Mr Yoftahe Demetros a lay man appointed by the Government of Eritrea as an administrator of the church.

Two of the six accusations wedged against his holiness are; his refusal to authorise the closure of the Mekane Hiwet Medhanialem church youth and Sunday-school activities, which were attended by close to 3,000 children and young people and was closed by the government of Eritrea earlier this year. Abuna Antonios was also ‘accused’ over his high level inquiry to the president regarding the imprisonment of the three priests who were leaders at the now closed Mekane Hiwet Medhanialem Church.

Whilst Release Eritrea is concerned about the widening persecution of Eritrean Christians which is now beginning to impact on those who are of the formally ‘recognised’ groups, we are also encouraged and heartened by the exemplary courage of his holiness Abuna Antonios to stand by his persecuted flock.

In a statement Dr Berhane Asmelash stated; ‘I am encouraged by his Holiness’ resolve to do the right thing by his flock and his ordained duties, that inevitably, has made him partaker of the persecution that has befallen other spiritual leaders who refused to succumb to the ill intents of the repressive regime, I commend him for that and continue to pray for him and his church’.

It is to be remembered that in spite of the severe clampdown on other Christian groups in Eritrea the Orthodox Church along with the Lutheran and Catholic Churches had enjoyed relative immunity from persecution.