Abune Diosqoros (born Diosqoros Hagos Mendefera; 1935 – 21 December 2015)[1][2] was the fourth Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, appointed in April 2007.[3]
His Holiness Abune Dioskoros | |
|---|---|
| Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church (Disputed) | |
| Church | Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church |
| Appointed | 19 April 2007 |
| Term ended | 21 December 2015 |
| Predecessor | Antonios |
| Successor | Qerlos |
| Previous post(s) | Bishop of Seraye district (1994–2004), Bishop of South West (2004–2007) |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 19 May 1994 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Diosqoros Hagos Mendefera 1935 |
| Died | 21 December 2015 (aged 79–80) |
| Denomination | Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo |
Bishop
editBorn in 1935, Dioskoros was consecrated as bishop of the Seraye district in the feast of Pentecost on 19 May 1994 by Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria. In 2004 he was transferred to the Diocese of the South West, where was a ruling bishop until his disputed election as the head of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church on 19 April 2007.[4]
Patriarch
editDioskoros' appointment was made possible because the regime in Eritrea changed the rules for the appointment, so that the Holy Synod of the church could assign a layman to be the new Patriarch.[5] The removal of Antonios (1927-2022), the former legal Patriarch, at the behest of the Eritrean government was denounced by Coptic Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church who have refused to recognize Dioskoros as legitimate Patriarch of Eritrea, as did several Eritrean churches, particularly in the diaspora, which continued to endorse his predecessor. The former Patriarch Antonios,[6] who was removed from the post after having criticized the Eritrean government for interference in church affairs, has been held under house arrest by the regime in Eritrea since 2005.[5]
In October 2014 the Union of Eritrean Monasteries issued a decree excommunicating Dioskoros' governmental allies, the priest Habtom Russom Habte and the layman Yoftahe Dimetros Gebre-mariam, citing a long list of alleged abuses during their administration during Doskoros' reign. However Dioskoros was not directly excommunicated in the process.[7] The Eritrean Government accused several monks of being a major force behind the excommunication letter. A number of the monks allegedly involved decided to escape and take refuge in Ethiopia.
Dioskoros died on 21 December 2015. Since his death, the position of patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church fell vacant until 2021, with the election of Qerlos.[8]
References
edit- ^ "His Holiness Abune Diosqorios Anointed as 4th Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church". Shabait. 28 May 2007.
- ^ Africa Yearbook
- ^ "New Eritrean patriarch appointed". Shabait. 25 April 2007.
- ^ "Dioskoros Hagos Mendefera". orthodoxia.ch. 21 February 2022.
- ^ a b Cole, Ethan (29 May 2007). "Eritrea installs controversial new orthodox patriarch". Christian Post.
- ^ Cole, Ethan (30 January 2008). "Eritrea Hides Ex-Orthodox Head from U.S. Officials". Christian Post.
- ^ "Excommunication Notice from the Union of Eritrean Orthodox Monasteries". The Orthodox Church News. 1 November 2014. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- ^ "Abune Qerlos Elected as 5th Patriarch". Eritrea Ministry Of Information. Retrieved 2021-06-13.