On the 9th of February 2022 Abuna Antonios, the third Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, passed away.
Born on July 12, 1927, in Himberti, to the north of Asmara, the Eritrean capital, Abuna Antonios began his traditional church education from the age of 5 at the Debre Tsege Abuna Endrias monastery. There he trained in the monastic life, was ordained in 1942 and became Abbot in 1955. In 1994, he was one of the five Abbots sent to Egypt to establish a Holy Synod for what became the autocephalous Eritrean Orthodox Church, which represents nearly half of the Eritrean population. On June 19, 1994, Abuna Antonios was ordained as Bishop Antonios of Hamasien-Asmara in Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo by His Holiness Shenouda III, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and returned to Eritrea. The Eritrean Church became autocephalous in 1993, and Abuna Antonios was ordained and enthroned as the third Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church in 2004.
Abuna Antonios had been under house arrest at an unknown location since 2007, following his removal from his position by the Eritrean government, as a result of his consistent refusal to comply with that government’s attempts to interfere with the church. In 2005 Abuna Antonios had refused to excommunicate 3,000 members of the Medhane Alem Orthodox Sunday School movement, and he further protested at the imprisonment of 3 priests from that movement, and others accused of treason.
Under house arrest he was kept isolated and was denied treatment for severe diabetes. On July 16, 2017, he was allowed, under tight security, to attend the divine liturgy at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Asmara but was not permitted to give a sermon or speaking with anyone. There were many international calls for his release and in many ways he was a figurehead for the many people imprisoned for their faith in Eritrea. Even though the Orthodox Church is officially recognised, its leader faced harsh treatment because he would not submit to the interference of the government in the church.
It is sad that it seems impossible to find more about his life. Like many of the monastics of this tradition he will have served the Church and communities of faithful without drawing attention to himself yet leaving a legacy of Christians whose hearts are encouraged and united in love.
Archbishop Angaelos of London, co-chair of LOI has this tribute to share:
‘Our relationship with our sister Eritrean Orthodox Church means that we feel their pain at this time with the repose of our dear father of blessed memory Abuna Antonios. I was privileged to be his host in Egypt when he visited as an Abbot for six months before his consecration as bishop. I was blessed to attend his consecration as bishop and then follow his ministry and life. Abuna Antonios was a man of great integrity who also suffered greatly, while being deposed and denied basic medical care for so long, and yet his spirit and his graciousness persisted. He will be remembered and missed. We pray for our sister Eritrean Orthodox Church this time.’