The 2005 Crisis in the Eritrean Orthodox Church and Its Consequences:

In his famous letter responding to the trumped up allegations that were brought against him in 2005, H.H. Patriarch Antonios had defiantly stated: “Those who trample the law underfoot will themselves be trampled by it. This is a veritable truth.”

It has been some years now since the Eritrean Orthodox Church has been reduced to a fiefdom of a lay person, the notorious Mr. Yoftahe Dimetros, who has illegally and by force of arms arrogated to himself the title and duties of  a general administrator of the church. This has been done in total contravention of the canon and practices of the church since the establishment of the Orthodox faith in the fourth century.    

Those of us who have followed the disturbing developments in our church - the false accusations with which Patriarch Antonios was charged and the motives of all those who took part in the pernicious and shameful act of betrayal - have seen it coming ever Since Mr. Yoftahe undertook his coup.  The fact that Mr. Yoftahe never had the best intentions for the church does not surprise us; because he has a history that is well known to all.  What we find disheartening is the betrayal of those who have taken the oath to serve God and are duty-bound to love and serve the church even as Christ himself loved her even to the point of giving His life for her. Some gave in out of fear and others out of loving themselves more than they do the church. The latter did so for their thirty silver shekels.

As a consequence of the shameful complicity of many of the bishops in the dastardly act of betraying the church and the acquiescence of many more, we have witnessed a precipitous erosion of the moral and spiritual standing of the church. They have tarnished her witness and credibility. The people can no longer look up to the bishops and priests of the church for guidance, inspiration and leadership.  Their failure to stand up for the truth, regardless of possible adverse consequences, has practically rendered the church without leaders.  Moreover, by the lack of resolve and the complicity on the part of some of the bishops of the sisterly Eritrean Orthodox Church has isolated itself from its churches – the Oriental Orthodox Churches.  What has saddened the faithful of the Eritrean Orthodox Church all the more is the cynical and under-handed campaign by Mr. Yoftahe and his clique to drive an unnecessary wedge between the Eritrean Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church.  One think they have failed to understand is that the bond between the two churches is sealed by the blood of the martyrs since the days of Saint Athanasius.

H.H. Abune Antonios, on the other hand, has become the most revered figure inside and outside of Eritrea for offering himself up as a living sacrifice for the church which he swore to love and protect, and for the sake of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Because he is a living testimony to true spiritual leadership in the tradition of the church fathers, his name is mentioned in the liturgy of most of the family of Oriental Orthodox Churches of which the EOC is a member.  He is admired and honored by the world community and those who would like to see justice upheld.

Today, we are witnessing the emergence of two distinct camps as a direct result of the take-over of the church by Mr. Yoftahe and his clique.  The people of Eritrea within and without the country have drawn a line.  Even under the threat of imprisonment, most people have rejected all those who have denied Abune Antonios as the one and only legitimate patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church.

The bishops who have accepted Mr. Yoftahe’s “supremacy” are already under anathema by H.H. Abune Antonios.  They cannot ordain priests and deacons.  And no one looks up to them until the anathema is lifted.

But our Lord has not left His church without witnesses.  There are priests and deacons who have bravely withstood the vicious onslaughts and persecutions by Mr. Yoftahe and his group.  From the outset, they have proclaimed H.H. Abune Antonios to be the only legitimate patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church.  They have rejected Mr. Yoftahe’s destructive role in the life of the church. Today, in spite of the relentless campaign of vilification and character assassination that is underway against them, the ministries of these priests in various parishes throughout North America and beyond, have flourished as the faithful have come to embrace them as the embodiment of the true spirit of the church of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is these same voices in the wilderness that have been calling the errant leaders to repentance and return to the fold.