Ethiopian Orthodox Church News - EOCN

03/03/2023

Ethiopian police fire tear gas into St George church in central Addis Ababa

- Addis Ababa, 03 Mar 2023

Police fired tear gas at a congregation of Orthodox Christians who were celebrating an annual feast at the historic St George church in Addis Ababa on Thursday. Videos circulating on social media show many people falling in the church compound and receiving treatment for the irritation from the tear gas fired at them.

One man is also reportedly killed by police when they cracked down on people who took to the streets of Addis Ababa to celebrate the annual Victory of Adwa at Emperor Menilek II Roundabout near St George church, and other historic places in the city.

Ethiopians believe that St Gorge helped them, as a patron saint, to defeat Italian invaders at the battle of Adwa on the 2nd of March 1888. Ever since, both the annual feast of St George and the Victory of Adwa are celebrated annually on the 2nd of March.




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10/02/2023

Ethiopia’s government intensifies crackdown on Orthodox Christians

- Addis Ababa, 10 Feb 2023

The Ethiopian government is arresting a number of Ethiopian Orthodox church activists and members and leaders of Sunday schools and youth associations after the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church rejected the government’s ban on a planned demonstration by Orthodox Christians.

Besides the mass arrests in Addis Ababa and other towns, at least one man was killed and many more wounded by police at a church in Weletie area in the Oromia region. The Holy Synod stated in its latest statement that it is willing to find a negotiated solution to the tension in line with the canon and laws of the church if the government stops meddling in its internal affairs and backing the rouge clergy.

09/02/2023

Ethiopian Orthodox Christians attending church service on the final day of Fast of Nineveh at St. Lideta le Mariam (Nativity of St. Mary) church in Addis Ababa

08/02/2023

Police in Jimma town expel Orthodox Bishop to Addis Ababa

- Addis Ababa, 08 Feb 2023

Security forces in Jimma town of the Oromia region have expelled His Grace Abune Hiskiel, Archbishop of Kaffa, Bench Sheko, Sheka and West Omo Diocese, to Addis Ababa. According to a report by Tewahedo Media Center, His Grace Abune Hiskiel was traveling from Addis Ababa to his diocese through Jimma town when the local police stopped his vehicle and sent him back to Addis Ababa forcibly. Southwest Ethiopia People’s Regional State has issued a statement condemning the mistreatment of the bishop at the hands of police in Jimma town.

Meanwhile, a priest who was shot in the recent police raid in Shashemene town in Oromia region has died in hospital, raising the death toll from the brutal attack.

06/02/2023

Churches across Ethiopia draped in black cloth as Orthodox Christians start Fast of Nineveh

Ethiopian Orthodox Christians start the three-day Fast of Nineveh dressed in black and covering church buildings with black cloth as they mourn the killing of around 23 young members of the church by police in Shashemene town of the Oromia region.

The Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church recently called on all Orthodox Christians to observe the Fast of Nineveh praying to God to deliver the church from the suffering it is facing following uncanonical ordination by rogue bishops backed by the Ethiopian government. Young church members were killed in Shashamene town as they were protecting their local churches from violent takeover by police and gangs supporting the excommunicated bishops.

04/02/2023

https://www.facebook.com/BBCnewsafrica/photos/a.292202500228/10161162334150229/?type=3&app=fbl

Ethiopia’s Orthodox church has threatened to call nationwide rallies to be led by its patriarch, Abuna Mathias.

The church has criticised PM Abiy Ahmed’s statements about rogue clergy involved in the appointment of bishops without its knowledge.

https://bbc.in/40oRo9B

04/02/2023

Orthodox Christians killed by Ethiopian police

Police in Shashemene town in Ethiopia’s Oromia region have shot dead two Orthodox Christians who were protecting a local church from forceful take over by uncanonically ordained ‘bishops’. According to a report by , four others have also sustained gunshot wounds in the attack.
The ‘bishops’, who are excommunicated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Synod for their uncanonical ordination, are reportedly taking control of churches and offices of the dioceses in Oromia region forcefully backed by the special force of the Oromia regional state.
Tensions are also running high in other towns in Oromia as the newly ordained ‘bishops’ advance to the dioceses to replace the bishops assigned by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Synod.