Church orders statue of Patriarch to be removedBy Solomon Bekele
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC) Supreme body, the Holy Synod, has decided to dismantle the statue of the Patriarch Abune Pawlos from the compound of Bole Medhanialem (Holy Savior) Church. The controversial statue was inaugurated during the eighteenth year of the Patriarch’s engagement but faced opposition because it was deemed contradictory to religious rules.
In the regular annual assembly of the Holy Synod that took place from November 22 to 26, it has also passed a decision to remove all billboards with the photograph of Patriarch Abune Pawlos featured in almost all Addis Ababa Churches.
The EOC Patriarchate General Manager was ordered to carry out the dismantling of the statue and billboards within twenty days. So far, in the last twelve days, no action has been taken. The Holy Synod is said to be discussing the matters at its official annual meeting.
Soon after this decision was passed on November 26, it was the talk of the town. “I don’t know about the statue. But I have seen the billboard. I am very happy for both to be removed from the church,” commented one Orthodox Christian without giving his name.
Another one, called Habtamu Gebremedhin, said: Our church doctrine doesn’t permit building statues for our religious fathers. Statues stand for great leaders, great officials, patriots and for people who do great deeds for their country upon their passing away. The Patriarch is not included in this list. So removing his statue and photograph is in line with the teachings of our church.
A week after the decision took place by the Holy Synod Capital has taken an informal poll to find out how widely the issue is known in the Christian community. Out of thirty church goers queried, 26 have a close understanding of the issue. Surprisingly, almost all of them reiterated the teachings of the church that preaches building a statue for a father while alive is forbidden by the doctrine. Even large and showy gravestones are not allowed, one of them commented with sorrow.
The Holy Synod also appointed Abune Samuel as the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Aid Commission. Abune Samuel was demoted from EOC Addis Ababa Diocese Secretariat following a dispute with the Patriarch Abune Pawlos. The Addis Ababa Diocese Secretariat has a very influential position within the EOC Dioceses.
The fifth Ethiopian Patriarch Abune Pawlos, since Egypt and Ethiopia were separated in 1959, is currently facing a tough challenge from the EOC Supreme body, the Holy Synod. As per their decision of the Synod we have only six days to go for the removal of the statue and billboard.
CapitalEthiopia
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