EOTC Patriarch Stresses Need for Addressing Internal Challenges through Discussion, Canonical Order

Addis Ababa, May 29/2024 (ENA) Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Patriarch Abune Mathias underscored that the internal problems the church has been facing should be solved through discussion and the church's canonical order.   

In his address to the annual meeting of the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo (EOTC) today, the patriarch urged archbishops and bishops to address the growing challenges of the church based on the traditions of the church. 

According to him, the church is grappling with a number of pressing issues, including the erosion of spiritual traditions, divisive tendencies, and deviations from the church's canonical order.

Emphasizing the importance of unity, the EOTC Patriarch Abune Mathias quoted the biblical verse from 1 Corinthians 1:10, urging the synod members to be "perfectly united in mind and thought" in their efforts to resolve the issues facing the church.

"I appeal to you, brothers in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” 

The patriarch stated that "activities bent on violating the canons and traditions of the church are posing threats to its peace and unity." 

There is a need to resolve these problems through discussion, wisdom, and adherence to the church's laws and order.

Patriarch Abune Mathias called on the archbishops and bishops to engage in thorough discussions and find timely solutions to address these challenges.

He also underscored the church's responsibility to play a proactive role to address the ongoing national-level disputes which have detrimental impact on the church.

Abune Mathias emphasized the necessity of dialogue and strong unity to address the challenging issues facing the church.

In order to come up with lasting solutions to the problems common to us all, it is important to follow the laws and order of the church and ultimately achieve peace and unity, he stressed.  

 “The church has religious and humanitarian obligations to deliver to the good of the church and the country. On this auspicious occasion, I would like to remind that this holy synod should discuss on  decisive and timely solutions to the apostolic mission and canonical issues of the church and come up with pertinent and useful resolutions that could help to resolve the challenges we are facing,” Patriarch Abune Mathias remarked.   

The annual meeting of the Holy Synod is expected to deliberate on these pressing concerns and formulate strategies to strengthen the unity and spiritual mission of the Church.