Abune Antonios challenges state-controlled synod’s arbitrary dismissal.
January 18 (Compass) — The government-controlled Holy Synod of the Eritrean
Orthodox Church last week served formal notice to Abune Antonios that he is no
longer the patriarchal head of the nation’s largest religious body. Patriarch
Antonios immediately rejected the notice, announcing that he was excommunicating
or suspending those who signed his arbitrary dismissal order. Since last August,
when the Eritrean government stripped Antonios of his ecclesiastical authority
and forbid him to administrate the affairs of the church, the patriarch has
remained under virtual house arrest at his residence in Asmara. Sources
confirmed to Compass that if the patriarch continues to challenge the
government-orchestrated takeover of his church, most people expect him to be
arrested soon.
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http://www.compassdirect.org/en/newslongen.php?idelement=4170
