This past spring, a sister church in the Oriental Orthodox tradition underwent a remarkable reconciliation and reunification, thanks to the mediation of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches in the U.S.A.
In a ceremony on April 18, two separated factions of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church were reconciled and restored to full communion. The historic gathering took place at the headquarters of Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, in Cedar Grove, NJ.
This milestone was the culmination of years of work and dialogue led by the president of the Standing Conference, Bishop David, leader of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York and New England, and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, our own Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Director of the Eastern Diocese.
The ecclesiastical fracturing in the Eritrean Church originated some 15 years ago, when its lawful patriarch, His Holiness Abune Antonios I (now of blessed memory), was illegally removed from his throne and placed under house arrest by the Eritrean government. As the action was contrary to Orthodox Christian canon law, it was never recognized by any of the Oriental Orthodox churches. From the outset the Standing Conference supported the Eritrean churches that had remained loyal to His Holiness and to the canon law common to all Orthodox jurisdictions.
The unlawful imprisonment of its patriarch caused great stress in the Eritrean Church, and led to its splintering into factions. However, two large groups within the church, each with strong foundations in the Eritrean diaspora, found common ground in their support of His Holiness Abune Antonios. They appealed to the Standing Conference to mediate a dialogue between them, and help lead them into communion with each other. Archbishop Vicken and Bishop David accepted to undertake this weighty task.
A Celebration of Unity
Over the course of the dialogue, Bishop David and Archbishop Aykazian worked with officials of the two Eritrean groups, at first laying groundwork with each side separately, and later entering into combined talks. Eventually, the two groups felt ready to reconcile with one another, and a meeting was arranged to sign an official accord and release a joint public statement together with the Standing Conference.
At that gathering, the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church Diocese of North America (including its affiliated churches in Europe and the Middle East) was represented by Bishop Makarios. The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Diocese of the Union of the Churches Abroad was represented by Bishop Sinoda. Bishop David and Archbishop Vicken represented the Standing Conference. Together, the four bishops signed a joint statement affirming the unity of the two Eritrean groups, among other matters.
Two weeks later, on April 29, Oriental Orthodox leaders celebrated the reconciliation of the Eritrean Church in America during a special Divine Liturgy at New York’s St. Mary Christian Center and Coptic Church. Archbishop Aykazian, Diocesan Vicar Fr. Simeon Odabashian, and Fr. Hakob Gevorgyan (of Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA) all took part in the happy occasion.
Learn more about this development, and find background and the text of the unity statement, on the website of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Church. Click the following link to view photos.
The Eastern Diocese offers prayers of joy and loving support for our sister Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, its clergy and all its faithful. And we congratulate Bishop David—a dear friend of the Armenian Church—and our own beloved Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, for this admirable achievement in their distinguished service to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pictured (l-r): Archbishop Aykazian, Bishop Makarios, Bishop Sinoda, and Bishop David, during the April 18 signing ceremony.