Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church
| Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church | |
|---|---|
| ቤተ ክርስትያን ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋህዶ ትግራይ Bet'ə K'rstian Orthodox Tewahədo Tigray | |
 Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion Cathedral in Axum, the seat of the Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church | |
| Abbreviation | TOTC |
| Classification | Oriental Orthodox |
| Orientation | Independent Oriental Orthodox, Orthodox Tewahedo |
| Scripture | Orthodox Tewahedo Bible |
| Theology | Miaphysitism |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Primate | Vacant |
| Region | Tigray and Tigrayan diaspora |
| Headquarters | Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, Axum, Tigray |
| Founder | The Apostle and Evangelist Mark in 42 AD Alexandria, Saint Frumentius in 328 AD Axum (according to the Tigrayan Orthodox tradition) |
| Independence | From the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in 2022. Not officially recognized in the broader Orthodox community. |
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The Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church is one of the Oriental Orthodox Churches with its headquarters in Axum, Tigray Region. It declared autocephaly on 7 May 2021, accusing the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church of not doing enough to speak out against the Tigray war, and for being too closely aligned with the Ethiopian government.[1][2][3][4] The archbishops of the Diocese of Tigray announced the establishment of the Synod of the Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, based on their previously codified “Church Law” after a three-day meeting from October 21 to 23, 2024.[5] [6] Although there is declaration of autocephaly, the church has not been officially granted an autocephalous status from the officially recognized Oriental Orthodox Churches as of 2024.
History
[edit]Origins
[edit]Tewahedo (Ge'ez: ተዋህዶ täwaḥədo) is a Ge'ez word meaning "being made one", cognate to Arabic tawhid.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia (1917 edition) article on the Henoticon: around 500 bishops within the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem refused to accept the "two natures" doctrine decreed by the Council of Chalcedon in 451, thus separating themselves from the rest of Christianity since that time.[7] This separate Christian communion came to be known as Oriental Orthodoxy. The Oriental Orthodox Churches, which today include the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, are referred to as "Non-Chalcedonian". These churches themselves describe their Christology as miaphysite, but outsiders often describe them as monophysite.[8][9]
2021 – present
[edit]Following the Tigray war, four Archbishops in Tigray announced the formation of a new and independent structure on May 7, 2021, accusing the Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahdo Church of not opposing the war on Tigray, and of being too closely aligned with the perpetrators.[2][10] Following the Tigray war, four Archbishops in Tigray announced the formation of a new and independent structure on May 7, 2021, named the autocephaly of the See of Selama Kessate Birhan, the High Administration of Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church. This was in response to allegations that the Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahdo Church had not appropriately opposed the war on Tigray and was too closely aligned with the war's perpetrators.[2][10] They also alleged that the Synod did nothing to protect the churches and monasteries in Tigray from destruction and that they withheld financial support from the region.[1][2] The Axum massacre in November 2020, when 100–800 civilians in Axum were killed by the Eritrean forces, was commonly cited as one example.[11] The massacre was carried out in the center of Axum, near the Church of Our Lady of Zion, one of the most important holy sites in the Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The church was also looted and damaged.
The first formal communication between the two churches occurred in February 2023, when the Ethiopian Church released a letter in which they requested to talk to the Tigrayan church leaders about reconciliation. Rather than being addressed to the See of Selama Kessate Birhan, Patriarchate of the Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the letter was addressed to individual archbishops, which caused further irritation amongst the Tigray leaders, as the Ethiopian Church refused to acknowledge their institution.[1]
Also in February 2023, the Tigrayan Church released its first liturgy book in Tigrinya and Ge'ez.[1]
In March 2023, the General Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church released a statement saying they would send a delegation to Tigray to attempt to repair the schism between the two churches. The Tigrayan church leaders rejected the statement, with some priests saying it did not include an apology for the Ethiopian Church's actions.[10] That same month, the Tigrayan bishops appointed a bishop to oversee Tigrayan church members in the diaspora; this move was criticized by the Ethiopian Church.[10]
On July 16, 2023, the Tigray Orthodox Tewahdo Church council nominated 10 episcopates five in Tigray and five abroad.[12][13] Early in the month, the Ethiopian Church officially apologized for their lack of action during the war, but Tigrayan leaders did not express any interest in reconciling, with some criticizing the apology for not recognizing the full magnitude of the injustices committed during the war.[14][15]
Traditions
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2023) |
In common with all Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Western Orthodox churches; the Catholic Church and the Old Catholic churches of the Union of Utrecht, the Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church professes belief in the seven sacraments of baptism, confirmation, eucharist, confession, the anointing of the sick, matrimony, and holy orders. It regards the first four as being "necessary for every believer".
Liturgical language
[edit]The traditional liturgical language of the Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church is Geʽez. This was the language of the early Aksumite Christians of the region. Though Geʽez no longer has native speakers, the language is still used for church liturgical functions and festivities. However, the sibket, or sermons, are normally given in the local Tigrinya language. Geʽez is currently being replaced by Tigrinya as the principal language for church services.[16]
Biblical canon
[edit]The Tewahedo Church Biblical Canon contains 81 books, including almost all of those which are accepted by other Orthodox and Oriental Christians. The exception are the Books of the Maccabees, at least some of which are accepted in the Eastern Orthodox and other Oriental Orthodox churches, but not in the Tewahedo churches. The books of Meqabyan, which are accepted instead, have an etymologically connected name, but rather different content. The Tigrayana Orthodox canon, the Eritrean Orthodox canon, and the Ethiopian Orthodox canon are identical.
- The Narrower Canon also contains Enoch, Jubilees, and three books of the Meqabyan;
- The Broader Canon includes all of the books found in the Narrower Canon, as well as the two Books of the Covenant, Four Books of Sinodos, a Book of Clement, and Didascalia;
Similarities to Judaism
[edit]Like the Ethiopian Church, the Tigrayan Church places a heavier emphasis on Old Testament teachings than one might find in Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Protestant churches and its followers adhere to certain practices that one finds in Orthodox or Conservative Judaism. Like some Eastern Christians, Tigrayan Christians traditionally follow dietary rules that are similar to Jewish Kashrut, specifically with regard to how an animal is slaughtered. Similarly, the consumption of pork is prohibited, but unlike Rabbinical Kashrut, Ethiopian cuisine allows the mixing of dairy products with meat.
Women in the Church
[edit]Women are prohibited from entering Tigrayan church temples during menses; they are also expected to cover their hair with a large scarf (or a shash) while they are in church, as described in 1 Corinthians, chapter 11.
Patriarchs, Abunas and bishops of Tigray
[edit] |
- Archbishops of Mekelle Abune Isayas
- Archbishops of Adigrat Abune Merhakirstos
- Archbishops of Shire Abune Petros
- Archbishops of Axum Abune Mekarios
List of Bishops or Episcopsates
[edit]The leaders of the Tigray Orthodox Tewahdo Church’s See of Selama Kesate Birhan elected ten candidates as bishops on July 16, 2023.[4] The new bishops will lead dioceses both in the Tigray region and abroad.
- Abba ZeSelassie Markos
- Abba Haile Michael Aregai
- Abba Estifanos Gebre Giorgis
- Abba Mehari Habte (Nibure Id)
- Abba Elias Gebre Kidan
- Abba ZeraDawit Brehane
- Abba Yemanebrihan Welde Samuel
- Abba Tsegegenet Kidane Welde
- Abba Sereqebrihan Welde Samuel
- Abba Yohannes Kebede
See also
[edit]- Christian observances of Jewish holidays
- Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
- Judaizers
- List of calendar of saints in the Orthodox Tewahedo
- Oriental Orthodox Christianity
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Synod Secretariat sends letters to five Tigray Archbishops seeking "reconciliation", blames "political conspiracy" for rift, 10 February 2023, retrieved July 17, 2023
- ^ a b c d መግለፂ ሊቀ ጳጳስ ሀገረ ስብከት ዞባ መቐለ, 29 March 2022, retrieved July 16, 2023
- ^ Tigray Orthodox Church ordained Episcopates, 23 July 2023, retrieved July 24, 2023
- ^ a b Tigray Church elects bishops in defiance of Addis synod, 2 August 2023, retrieved August 3, 2023
- ^ "በትግራይ ክልል የሚገኙ ሊቃነ ጳጳሳት የራሳቸውን ሲኖዶስ ማቋቋማቸውን ገለጹ", amharic.voanews.com, 24 October 2024, retrieved October 29, 2024
- ^ "Excommunicated Archbishops Declare a New Ethnical Synod in Tigray, Ethiopia", ocpsociety.org, 26 October 2024, retrieved October 29, 2024
- ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Henoticon". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
- ^ Winkler, Dietmar W. (2012). "Miaphysitism A New Term for Use in the History of Dogma and in Ecumenical Theology". The Harp. 10: 33–40.
- ^ Brock, Sebastian P. (2016). "Miaphysite, not Monophysite!". Cristianesimo Nella Storia (in Italian). Il Mulino: 45–52. ISBN 978-88-15-26168-7.
- ^ a b c d Houreld, Katharine (April 12, 2023). "Divisions in Ethiopia's ancient church pose new threat to war-weary country". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ "A bid 'to exterminate us': Tigrayans recount massacre by Eritrean troops". RFI. March 3, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- ^ መንበረ ሰላማ ከሳቴ ብርሃን ትግራይ 10 ኤጲስ-ቆጶሳት ከም ዝሾመ ኣፍሊጡ, 16 July 2023, retrieved July 16, 2023
- ^ "#ASDailyScoop: Tigray Orthodox leaders remain on course to appoint episcopates amid efforts to resolve schism". Addis Standard. July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
- ^ "Ethiopia Church apologises to followers in Tigray over war". Africanews. 2023-07-07. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
- ^ "#NewsAlert: Orthodox Synod issues official apology for failing Tigray Orthodox Church, its followers". Addis Standard. 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
- ^ NgCheong-Lum, Roseline; Orr, Tamra (15 April 2020). Eritrea. Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC. pp. 83–84. ISBN 978-1-5026-5578-3.
Sources
[edit]- Binns, John (2016). The Orthodox Church of Ethiopia: A History. Tauris. ISBN 978-1784536954.
- Meyendorff, John (1989). Imperial unity and Christian divisions: The Church 450-680 A.D. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. ISBN 9780881410563.
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