Synod to Dismantle Archbishop’s Statue

By Gubae Gundarta

In an annual assemblage of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Synod a consensus was reached, according to sources, that the statue of His Holiness, Paulos, should be knocked down. Likewise it was also decided that all posters and placards carrying his image which have been put on various sites in churchyards were to be removed.

The meeting kicked of last Friday. A number of issues that had to do with the patriarch were tabled for discussion. Among these was the issue of the patriarch’s image which has been put up on the premises of Bole Medihanealem Church for some time now. A unanimous resolution was passed that the whole idea was against the dogmatic regulations of the church. In addition to this, the assembly has also addressed other issues about the bishop including the standing of billboards carrying his image in different churchyards, the construction of his statue to celebrate the eighteenth anniversary of his ordination and individuals who were said to have been putting various members of church community at odds. The bishop was asked for explanation on these matters.

The patriarch came up with his rejoinder Tuesday. His stand on previous occasions was that he had done nothing to take blame for. This time, however, he replied to the question of the statue that he didn’t know that it has actually been inaugurated.

In general, the assembly stated that under the leadership of the current patriarch, a number of damages have been caused to the church; lack of orderliness; and the wide spread of corrupt practices and authoritarian leadership.

On a related account, Fantahun Muche, the Manager of Addis Ababa Diocese, was removed from his post awaiting audit whereupon he might be inculpated should there exist any unlawful activities.

NewsDire Staff Writer
Gubae Gundarta, Reporter