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The Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has issued a proclamation following an emergency plenary meeting led by the Holy Spirit. The meeting was held on January 18, 2015 due to illegal raids and break-ins at administrative offices of the church dioceses and the restriction of physical safety and movement rights of bishops, priests, and parishioners. The government has been accused of supporting the individuals responsible and ignoring repeated warnings from the church.
The proclamation includes several decisions made by the Holy Synod. It strongly condemns the illegal arrest and harassment of ministers and believers, as well as the human rights violations and death of believers at St. Michael’s church in Shashemene city. The synod also decided that all followers of the church should fast in Nineveh for the entire Sabbath period and wear all black clothes to lead and follow prayer rituals in the churches and monasteries for three days starting from January 6, 2023.
The Holy Synod calls upon all religious and social institutions and individuals to stand in support of the call of the church and urges all priests and believers to participate in a peaceful demonstration on February 12, 2022. The demonstration will be held in one place starting from each area and will be accompanied by singing and swearing.
The Holy Synod also stresses the duty of government security forces to provide appropriate protection and calls for justice to be done in all localities. The detailed instructions for the implementation of the proclamation will be communicated to the followers of the church in the near future.
