List of Abunas of Eritrea

The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church is part of the Oriental Orthodox communion, and it was granted autocephaly by Shenouda III, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, in 1994 — a year after Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia. Shenouda III ordained five Eritrean high-ranking clergy as Bishops of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church on 19 June 1994 in Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo. This would allow the formation of a local Holy Synod for Eritrea. Shenouda III also agreed that a newly elected Patriarch would be able to consecrate on his own new bishops and metropolitans for the Eritrean Church. The Patriarch of Eritrea also carries the title of Abuna in line with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Abuna of Eritrea
Bishopric
oriental
Eritrean Cross (identical to the Coptic cross)
Incumbent:
Vacant
Disputed by Antonios
Since 21 December 2015
StyleHis Holiness
Information
First holderPhillipos
Established7 May 1999
CathedralEnda Mariam Cathedral, Asmara
Website
lisantewahdo.org
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After declaration of autocephaly of the church in 1994, the position of Patriarch of Eritrea remained vacant until 1999 when Abune Phillipos became the first Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Patriarchs of Eritrea
No. Abuna
Personal name
(Birth–Death)		 Portrait Reign Notes
Seat vacant 1994–1999
1 Phillipos
Tewolde Berhan
(1901–2002)		 1999–2001
2 Yacob
(1924–2003)		 2002–2003
3 Antonios
(born 1929)		 2004–2007 Deposed by the Eritrean government;[1] under house arrest since January 2007
4 Dioskoros
(1937–2015)		 2007–2015 Reign disputed by followers of Abune Antonios[2]
Seat vacant 2015–present

See also

References
  1. "Orthodox patriarch of Eritrea sacked". 1 February 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
  2. Cole, Ethan (29 May 2007). "Eritrea installs controversial new orthodox patriarch". Christian Post.
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