Shabait.com (Asmara)

Eritrea: The Eritrean People Are Not in Need of Any Religion From Foreigners - Eoc Patriarch

15 December 2008

Asmara — His Holiness Abune Dioskoros, Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, who is currently in Europe on spiritual visit, said that the Eritrea people have religions of their own dating back to centuries on the basis of which they have been coexisting in peace and harmony. And as such, they are not in need of any religion from foreigners, he elaborated.

During his stay in the Italian city of Milan from December 5 to 8, the Patriarch was accorded warm welcome by heads of the Office of the Eritrean Consul General, the Synod of the St. Mary Church and a number of the faithful in the cities of Milan and Bologna.

His Holiness Abune Dioskoros, along with bishops and priests, conducted prayers and called for the Eritrean people to reinforce the cherished values of love, mutual care and tolerance, thus bequeathing the love of God and Nation to future generations.

Tagged: East Africa, Eritrea, Religion

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  • Trainwreck 101
    Dec 16 2008, 13:42
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    It's interesting that Abune Dioskoros was put in place NOT by the Synod of Bishops of the Eritrean Orthodox Tawahedo Church, but by the Eritrean Government. The legitimate Patriarch, Abune Paulos, is still in prison in Eritrea because he would not bow down to the government and also Abune Paulos protested priests being drafted into the Eritrean Army and put into combat positions.

    So it's quite evident (but not a foregone conclusion) that Abune Diskoros is a puppet of the government. This is Orthodoxy's biggest weakness. Orthodox Churches become "National Churches" and once the government gets control of the patriarchate or the synod of bishops, the government gets control of the Church.