On Thursday morning, June 13, 2019, five monks from the Bizen Monastery have been detained by government security in Nefacit town, Eritrea, that's about 6 miles away from the Bizan Monastery. The five monks who were arrested are:
- Abba Markos Ghebre-kidan
- Abba Kibre-Ab Tekie
- Abba Kidane-Mariam Tekeste
- Abba Ghebre-Tinsa’e Ze-Michael
- Abba Ghebre-Tinsa’e Tewelde-Medhin
The reason why they were arrested remains unknown and their whereabouts is not determined. Nonetheless, the Bizen Monastery, along with other monasteries, opposes strongly the government’s interference in the Eritrean Orthodox Church. As a result, they have been subjected to a myriad of harassment, persecution, and arrest by the Eritrean government. The arrest of the five monks by the government is additional evidence of persecution that continues to take place in the Eritrean Orthodox Church.
Also, a number of other prominent priests, monks and many faithful are languishing in various prisons till this day.
His Holiness Abune Antonios, the 3rd Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church was put under house arrest in 2006 by the Eritrean government and reinstatement to his Patriarchal Throne remains unresolved.
The Eritrean government has denied interfering in the Orthodox Church but videos obtained recently from Eritrea shows top government security officers giving orders to bishops and clergy members inside the Eritrean Orthodox Church.
We pray that God protect the monks, His Holiness Abune Antonios, the 3rd Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, and the Eritrean Orthodox Church.