His Holiness Abune Mathias I enthroned 6th Patriarch of Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Addis Ababa, March 3, 2013: His holiness Abune Mathias was enthroned as the 6th Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church (EOTC) on Sunday, 03 March 2013.

The Catholicos - Patriarch of The Indian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II and representatives of the Coptic Orthodox Church (Metropolitan Amba Bishoy, Metropolitan Amba Bakhomious, Metropolitan Amba Hedra, Archbishop Biemen and Archbishop Rafael) attended the coronation ceremony held at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa.

After the Enthronement ceremony, the new Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church, His holiness Abune Mathias I affirmed that the Holy Synod would endeavor to nurture followers with magnificent religious values. H H Abune Mathias also stressed the need for solidification the Church’s working procedures.

H H Abune Mathias I on the occasion said the Church will work in collaboration with followers of the religion, clergy, and stakeholders to further strengthen the existing love and unity of the people. The Patriarch said the Church will also work in collaboration with stakeholders to further enhance the existing culture of tolerance in the country (Ethiopia). The Church will work towards peace, love and tolerance with religious leaders in the Church, he said. (ENA)

Speaker of the House of Peoples' Representatives of Ethiopia, Abadula Gemeda on his part expressed belief that the Patriarch will further intensify the culture of tolerance in the country. Representatives of different churches across the world, religious leaders and followers of the Church as well as higher level government officials took part in the event.

Abune Matthias was elected as the new Patriarch the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church on Thursday 28 February 2013, replacing Abune Paulos who passed away in August last year.

The new Patriarch was elected by 500 votes out of 806 cast by members of the church synod living in Ethiopia and elsewhere.

Born Teklemariam Asrat in Sebu'i Woreda of the former Agame Awraja in Tigray State in 1941, Abune Mathias 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.

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.

Photo: Misawa ZeRaguel