The Holy Synod, the chief decision-making body of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, is currently making concerted efforts to head off a potential split in the community with followers in the northern state of Tigray.
The problem had stemmed from the church’s reaction to the two-year civil war, that was mostly battled in Tigray. This civil war had ended in November 2022 but the conflict had led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and ignited a humanitarian crisis.
The church has meanwhile, been subjected to criticism from bishops, priests and believers in Tigray for not denouncing the war.
Recall that in March however, the bishops of Tigray had revealed that they wanted to separate from the Holy Synod.
Plans which had been concluded for 10 new bishops to be ordained in the region on Sunday, July 16, had fallen through when the Holy Synod had asked the federal and regional governments to stop the process, quoting a violation of the church constitution.
A two-day emergency session held by the Holy Synod on Thursday, July 13 where Tigray bishops and scholars were criticised for disregarding the established organisational structure and bypassing peaceful dialogue.
It is noteworthy to mention that the Holy Synod had issued an apology to the people of Tigray, in reference to the civil war, but it appears to not be enough.
In a reconciliatory attempt, a delegation of bishops, led by Patriarch Abune Matthias, had travelled to Mekelle, the Tigrayan capital, to engage in discussions with the leaders of the regional government and the church.
But the meeting had ended up not taking place.
