Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” – Psalm 116:15 

His Holiness Abune Antonios, the 3^rd Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church,  has gone to his eternal rest on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at the age of 96. His funeral took place the next day at the very monastery where he was received at the age of five. In attendance, there were His Holiness’s beloved monastic brothers of Abune Endrias, the monastery that raised and educated him, and which he in return devoted much of his life in service as a deacon, monk, priest, and an abbot. In an expression of their love and respect, a large number of clergies and the faithful from the surroundings were also in attendance.

On the other hand, it was so sad to see that no government officials or bishops were present at the funeral. In fact, the government that is responsible for His Holiness’s imprisonment for the past sixteen years has done all it could to impose a complete news blackout and suppress the news of the repose. A large number of Eritreans in Diaspora, free of all the constraints that are imposed on the people back home, continue to express their grief and love to their departed father. Messages of condolences continue to pour into the Diaspora Dioceses of the Eritrean Orthodox Church.   

As the scripture tells us: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” – Psalm 116:15. To quote an ancient saying: “The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

What saddens us is that with the death of our beloved Patriarch Abune Antonios, our people everywhere have lost a true voice at a time when lawlessness in governance has reigned supreme, when our ancient faith has been under severe persecution, the social fabric of our society is being dismantled, when the lives of our fellow citizens lose its inherent value and dignity and our people are scattered to the four corners of the world as if they have no country of their own.

We pray now more than ever that God may bring an end to the deep suffering of our people. We pray for the restoration of our church’s apostolicity, as well as peace and reconciliation in our church and society. This then is the time for us all to renew our commitment to follow in the sacred footsteps of our departed father and continue his struggle for peace and justice.  

The period of bereavement for our people in every local parish will continue for the next forty days. The official prayer of the departed by the North America Diocese, led by His Grace Abune Makarios and attended by the clergy, representatives of sisterly churches, and invited guests, will take place on Sunday, February 20, 2022, at the Cathedral of Medhane Alem Orthodox Church, Washington DC.

Map & Address

For more information, go to www.tewahdo.org.  

May God grant eternal rest to H.H. Patriarch Abune Antonios and send us all His spirit of solace.