The Ethiopian Tewahdo Orthodox Church has elected Abune Matthias as its new Patriarch, replacing Abune Paulos who passed away in August last year.
Under the title "His Holiness, Abuna Mathias, Sixth Patriarch and Catholicos of Ethiopia" the new Patriarch was elected by 500 votes out of 806 cast by members of the church synod living in Ethiopia and elsewhere.
His enthronement as Patriarch is expected to be on Sunday (March 3rd) at an official ceremony in Addis Ababa which tens of thousands of people will attend. Abune Matthias, 71, has lived abroad for over 30 years.
He initially left from Ethiopia following the military coup in 1974 and has travelled widely in Europe and America. He was serving as the Archbishop of the Church in Jerusalem before his election as Patriarch on Thursday (February 28th).
The office of the Patriarch has been vacant since August last year after Abune Paulos, who was elected Patriarch in 1992 died after a short illness.
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CORRECTION: The incoming patriarch was appointed by the ruling party. Election was held to make it appear legit. He was brought in from Jerusalem for this very purpose; two high-ranking officials within the ruling party [Sebhat Nega and Abbay Tsehaye] spilled the beans nearly a fortnight ago as the battle was waging for the position! He lived abroad for over three decades and wins by a landslide of 500 votes of a total 806? That should give you the clue. [Interestingly, the ruling party - the only party - also won by a landslide of 99.6% in 2005!] The new patriarch is, as was his predecessor, a member of the ruling minority. That again should give you another clue. The report above said votes were cast by members of the church living in Ethiopia and "elsewhere." The "elsewhere" does not exist but was put there to persuade those uninitiated in Ethiopian affairs the choice was fair and square.
Every orthodox Ethiopian is happy with the election of the holi father .He is devout Christian ,educated, and full of wisdom .But reminantsof the communist dergue military reigme oppose him because of his un wavering stand against human right violations. The previous killers are pretending to be orthodox followers !!!!!! Long healthy productive life papa.My God guide u !!!!
There is word mix-up in your report "election" vs "selection". The guy is selected by the government. Our government does not want to see anything or anybody elected. They have mastered the art of faking all elections and stuffing ballots. They do this with the predictability of a clock work.
His Holiness Patriarch Abune Matias, May live thousand years
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.(Rom 13:1-2 KJV)
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