Abuna of Eritrea
Bishopric
oriental
Coat of arms of the {{{name}}}
Eritrean Cross (identical to the Coptic cross)
Incumbent:
Vacant
Since 2 December 2022
StyleHis Holiness
Information
First holderPhillipos
Established7 May 1999
CathedralEnda Mariam Cathedral, Asmara
Website
lisantewahdo.org

The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church is part of the Oriental Orthodox communion, and it was granted autocephaly by Shenouda III, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, in 1994 — a year after Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia. Shenouda III ordained five Eritrean high-ranking clergy as Bishops of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church on 19 June 1994 in Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt. This would allow the formation of a local Holy Synod for Eritrea. Shenouda III also agreed that a newly elected Patriarch would be able to consecrate on his own new bishops and metropolitans for the Eritrean Church. The Patriarch of Eritrea also carries the title of Abuna in line with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

After declaration of autocephaly of the church in 1994, the position of Patriarch of Eritrea remained vacant until 1999 when Phillipos became the first Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Patriarchs of Eritrea

No. Portrait Abuna
(Birth–Death)		 Reign Notes
1 Phillipos
(1901–2002)		 1999–2001 Born in Endadeko as Tewolde Berhan
2 Yacob
(1924–2003)		 2002–2003
3 Antonios
(1929–2022)		 2004–2006 Deposed by the Eritrean government;[1] under house arrest since January 2006.
Born in Hembrti as Gebremedin Debretsion
4 Dioskoros
(1934–2015)		 2007–2015 Reign disputed by followers of Abune Antonios.[2]
Born as Diosqoros Hagos Mendefera
5 Qerlos
(1927–2022)		 2020–2022 Reign disputed by followers of Abune Antonios until 2022.[3][4]

Timeline

QerlosAbune DioskorosAbune AntoniosAbune YacobAbune Phillipos

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Orthodox patriarch of Eritrea sacked". 1 February 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
  2. ↑ Cole, Ethan (29 May 2007). "Eritrea installs controversial new orthodox patriarch". Christian Post.
  3. ↑ "Abune Qerlos Elected as 5th Patriarch". Ministry of Information of Eritrea. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
  4. ↑ "Official Consecration of His Reverend Abune Qerlos, 5th Patriarch of Eritrea". Ministry of Information of Eritrea. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
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