Chapter 10. Ethiopia

Illegitimate deposition of Patriarch Theophilus of Ethiopia

Original Arabic Text

The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church met on Saturday 14 August 1976 (corresponding to 8 Mesra 1692) under the chairmanship of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and the 117th Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and discussed the topic of the invitation sent by the Church in Ethiopia to participate in the ordination of a new patriarch for it. The Synod decided the following:

  1. Patriarch Theophilus was not deposed in a proper ecclesiastical way as he was not tried before the Holy Synod in a lawful trial in which specific charges were laid against him, and he was not given the opportunity to defend himself in accordance with the laws and traditions of the Church. This is an inhuman matter, and we regret that this has been repeated in Ethiopia with others.
  2. It is not permissible to ordain a Patriarch for Ethiopia in the event that there is a Patriarch who is still alive, and he was not deposed of his priestly rank in a proper manner according to the laws and traditions of the Church.
  3. The procedures that have been followed so far for the ordination of a new Patriarch of Ethiopia are in violation of the protocol set on 25 June 1959 between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Church in Ethiopia. Also, this protocol was breached on many points and on more than one occasion.
  4. The Church in Ethiopia sent an invitation to the Coptic Orthodox Church, without sending any decision from the Holy Synod in Ethiopia concerning the status of Patriarch Theophilus, the Ethiopian Patriarch, who was exiled by the Ethiopian authorities. So, the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church decided not to participate in this ordination, because this situation is considered a violation of the laws and ecclesiastical traditions, in addition to its violation of the Protocol established in 1959 between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Church. The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church advises the Church in Ethiopia to correct the situation by adhering to the Church's laws and tradition. This decision is officially communicated to the Ethiopian Church, and to the Orthodox Churches, and to the Council of African Churches, and is issued with a detailed statement concerning this.