Patriarch Antonios was born in 1927 in the town of Hemberti, to the north of Asmara in the province of Hamasien.

His father was a priest and at the age of five he entered the monastery of Debre Tsige Abune Enderia where he was educated for the service of the church, being ordained a deacon when he was twelve. Professed a monk and ordained priest in 1942, he was elected Abbot in 1955.

When the Eritrean Orthodox Tewhado Church first sought its independence, he was one of the five abbots of monasteries to be sent to Egypt to be ordained a bishop so that the church would have its own Holy Synod. He was ordained as Bishops Antonios of Hamasien-Asmara on 19 June 1994 in St. Mark’s Cathedral, Cairo, at the hands of His Holiness Shenouda III, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.

In 2003, following the death of Abune Yacoub, second Patriarch of the Eritrean Church, he was elected Patriarch in popular elections which were unanimously endorsed by the Holy Synod. His ordination and enthronement as Patriarch took place on 23 April 2004 in Asmara, at the hands of Pope Shenouda III, assisted by Eritrean and Coptic Orthodox Metropolitans and Bishops.

In short, His Holiness Patriarch Antonios, 3rd Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church

Date of birth: July 13, 1927 (5 July 1919 Geez) He was born in Hemberti, a village in Central zone.

Ordination of deaconship: March 27, 1938 (18 March 1930 Geez)- he was ordained a deacon

Priesthood & monk Ordination: 1950 (1942 Geez) by the name Abba Yemane-Berhan at Abune Enderias Monastery.

Abbot: 1955 he was elected to be the abbot of Abune Enderias Monastery

Bishopric ordination: June 19, 1994 (12 June 1986 Geez) he was ordained a Bishop in Cairo, Egypt, by Pope Shenouda III, Patriarch of Alexandria.

Patriarchal enthronement: April 25, 2004 (17 April 1996 Geez) at St Mary Church, Asmara, Eritrea by Pope Shenouda III, Patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt.

House-arrest:  January 13, 2006 (16 years and one month)

Departure: February 9, 2022 (2 February 2014 Geez) in detention። On Thursday February 10, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Antonios was laid to rest in the Monastery of Abuna Enderias where he was raised since the age five.

More about Patriarch Antonios

Patriarchs of the Eritrean Orthodox Church