A Message from His Holiness Abune Merkorios, Patriarch

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for

this is the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.

The Head Office of the Patriarchate of the Legitimate Synod of the
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) in North America deeply
laments and pleads to the Almighty God that He give His blessings and
mercy to our people in Ethiopia, who are undergoing through a
tremendous hardship, suffering, and despair, stemming from both
political tyranny and economic injustice, and more importantly, from
ethnically-motivated displacement of selected population groups from
their homes and communities around the country. Even the most sacred
of our religious sites, such as venerated statues and monasteries,
have not been immune from government intrusion. It is against this
backdrop, unfortunately, that we were observing The Great Lent (Abye
Tsome) of fasting and praying— in the great tradition of the
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church— as a remembrance of the 40 days
and nights of fasting of our Lord Christ after His baptism. Surely,
our usual upbeat celebration of this epic Orthodox Tewahedo tradition
has been tempered this year by the grim reality of the many
misfortunes afflicting our people back in Ethiopia.

His Holiness Abune Merkorios, Patriarch of the EOTC Holy Synod-in-
Exile in North America, is keenly aware of the prevailing crises in
our country that have created conditions detrimental to the lives of
thousands of Ethiopians across the land. He wishes to send a
spiritual message to all Ethiopians, including Christians and non-
Christians in the Diaspora as well as at home, of hope and
perseverance even under these very trying times of unjust political
conditions created by the current regime in our homeland. He
particularly appeals to the Orthodox Tewahedo faithful to pray
ceaselessly for the victims of forced displacement, torture, and
unjust imprisonment, and for others who are being prosecuted for
demanding political and religious rights, as well as their freedom to
live and move anywhere within Ethiopia, irrespective of their ethnic
or linguistic backgrounds.

The most recent of the tragic events that have characterized life in
Ethiopia under authoritarianism include, among other things, the
following:

1. Overt and covert interventions by the regime in the affairs of
   the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, as illustrated in both
   the most recent selection of the 6th Patriarch and the newly
   announced government proclamation requiring that the functions
   of all faith-based organizations comply with the country’s
   existing laws and regulations. While claiming that freedom of
   religion is affirmed under the country’s constitution and that a
   wall of separation between the sate and religious organizations
   is constitutionally guaranteed, the regime still uses its
   unchecked power to place decrees on the EOTC, as a case in
   point, which for all practical purposes has had a 2,000-year of
   self-regulation based on Orthodox Tewahedo principles and
   practices. Under the new proclamation, it would be for the first
   time in Ethiopia’s long history that the EOTC would be required
   to register with, and become subject to the dictates of the
   government under the pretext of the new legal provisions, in the
   same way as other civic and business organizations are required
   under the law. In this regard, EOTC’s historic role of
   projecting a major symbol of identity and preeminence in
   Ethiopian society is gradually being eroded, and, therefore, the
   Orthodox Tewahedo faithful as a whole must voice their
   displeasure against such government intrusiveness with more
   vigor and diligence;

2. Ethnic cleansing targeted at members of the Amhara population
   group in the southern parts of Ethiopia in the past and recently
   in some areas of the same and, even more importantly, in the
   Benshngual-Gumez zone of the country’s west as of late. This is
   a new phenomenon that has taken place for the first time in our
   long and illustrious history.

3. Illegal and politically-motivated intrusion by the regime in the
   selection process of religious leaders, as was the case recently
   in both the Orthodox Church and the Moslem faith, thereby
   causing instability and disharmony within each religious entity
   while depriving the adherents of both religions the absolute
   freedom to manage their affairs and practice their beliefs;

4. Uprooting of indigenous people of the Gambella region through
   forced villagization in order to lease their land at cheap price
   to foreign investors. The consequences of this uprooting in
   human terms have been horrendous for those affected by it.

5. Physical abuse of monks and devout religious Fathers of the
   world-renowned monastery of Waldiba in the northern part of the
   country, while desecrating and pillaging the sacred properties
   of that religious sanctuary. This action is both inhuman and
   unspeakable; and

6. Arbitrary jailing and torturing of prominent journalists and
   political leaders under a law intended to terrorize political
   opponents and critics of the regime.

Describing the extent of the suffering of our people in details to
which they are subjected today, as we hear and see it in daily media
reports, is quiet too discomforting and heartrending. We trust that
our Savior will ultimately bring salvation and redemption to our
people who have endured the worst of regime atrocities ever recorded
in our proud and long history. Given these circumstances, His
Holiness pleads to the faithful within the Diaspora Ethiopian
Orthodox community that we all engage in activities that not only
bring unity of purpose and the mind amongst us, as children of the
Lord, but also advance the interest of our people and promote their
just cause in ways that we are capable of. To this end, His Holiness
believes that the following actions would be appropriate for all of
us to engage in:

1. Reach out to the Lord through prayers and vigils at all times
   and beseech that peace and harmony descend onto Ethiopia, so
   that our people would be free at last. Prayers, if conducted
   genuinely and in fellowship with likeminded believers, could be
   the basis of our deliverance;

2. Forge unity at all levels of interactions, but even more
   importantly among followers of the Orthodox Tewahedo faith,
   while bringing together all EOTCs in the Diaspora to pursue a
   common vision and mission for our church by eliminating
   differences among member churches or minimizing them thereof. In
   unity, we not only gain strength to accomplish our common goals,
   but also our prayers can be heard easier when we demonstrate to
   the Almighty God that we are in harmony, peace and fellowship,
   as Orthodox Christians;

3. Become an advocate of human rights by forging alliances amongst
   all the Orthodox Tewahedo faithful as well as with other fellow
   Ethiopians across religious and political lines so as to make a
   stronger impact on voicing our collective call for justice at
   home, using the art of diplomatic pressure on the regime in
   Ethiopia; the power of persuading others who bankroll the regime
   there to bring the desirable changes in our country should never
   be underestimated. World governments and international
   organizations that have the ability to influence the behavior of
   oppressive regimes, such as the one in Ethiopia, can be
   convinced to take action only when pressed by a collective voice
   of concerned citizens working in unison; our unity can overcome
   the weaknesses that we have had in the past; and

4. Remain active and involved in church-related activities, as well
   as in all community-based functions that advance and promote our
   heritage in our adopted countries, so that the shared goals and
   objectives that we cherish could be accomplished with minimum or
   no diversion from our mission. The guiding principle of forging
   collective harmony and peace among all Ethiopians must be
   nothing other than “unity in diversity,” a pragmatic way of
   looking at ourselves as we strive to attain our God-given rights
   as free people.

May God have mercy on Ethiopia, and on its people, who find
themselves under the bondage of injustice carried on by the leaders
of an uncaring regime!

Patriarchate Secretarial Office In Exile
Tel: 678-687-5889
Fax: 323-291-0733
P. O. B www.eotcholysynod.org
OX 505 Stone Mountain, GA 30086
[email protected]