News & Events

The 2010 conference, which was hosted by the Archangel Gabriel Eritrean Orthodox Church, took place in New York City on July 22-25, 2010. Conference attendees came from numerous US

states and Canada. The conference was structured into four days, with group events and the focus was on edifying the faithful in all aspects of prayer & worship. During the conference, the faithful were able to pray, learn & worship together.
On Thursday, July 22, 2010, His Grace Bishop Makarios, Bishop of the Eritrean Archdiocese of North America and general Bishop of the Coptic Church, opened the conference with his blessings. The next day, H.G Bishop Makarios introduced His eminence Metropolitan Seraphim, Bishop of the British Orthodox Church to the clergy & the faithful. His Eminence along with his Assistant, Mr. Trevor Maskery, flew from London all the way to New York at the invitation of H.G Bishop Makarios. The clergy and the faithful received His Eminence with an enthusiastic welcome, befitting of his position. On that evening, His Eminence spoke to a large crowd. His topic was:”How shall we sing the Lord’s Song on a strange Land?”, citing the many problems that the faithful face in a land of immigration. The text of this presentation is now available in booklet form at: http://www.lulu.com

During the length of the conference, several speakers, theologians and priests gave sermons and seminars on different issues that are relevant to the daily life of the faithful. A concurrent conference was also held onsite for the youth, allowing the young deacons and deaconess to discuss relevant issues and investigate new services.

On Saturday July 24, 2010, Bishop Makarios and His Eminence, assisted by priests and deacons, celebrated the Divine Liturgy. This was a special prayer vigil for H.H Antonios, patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church.  It is worth mentioning here that H.H Antonios has forcefully been removed from his post, against all Church Canons and Church Traditions.

During the Liturgy, His Eminence spoke on a very important issue, the very issue that the Eritrean Church is facing right now. He preached on the Gospel of St. John 10: 11-21 and demonstrated the “apostolic faith and traditions, which recognizes H.H. Abune Antonios as the only canonical Patriarch”.

By quoting the Biblical reference, “he who enters in by the door”, His Eminence drew a stark parallel, comparing H.H Antonios, as the legal patriarch of the Eritrean Church. Furthermore, he quoted St. John, “he who, 'enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber’,” in a clear contrast to the current hand-picked and illegal patriarch. Moreover, His Eminence reminded the conference attendees that H.H Antonios, patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church as being the only canonical patriarch, recognized by the sisterly Orthodox Churches. In his analogical and eloquent approach, His Eminence reiterated precisely the core stand of the Archdiocese.

During the Devine Liturgy, the blessed Professor Deacon Habtu Ghebre-Ab was ordained a priest and took the name: Father Athanasius. He will serve the Eritrean faithful in Cincinnati.  Also, Fr. Araya Tesfay was ordained hegoumenos, while Dr. Desale was ordained a deacon.