Abuna Theophilos
Gojjam Province, Ethiopian Empire (now Debre Elias, East Gojjam, Ethiopia) | |
---|---|
Died | 14 July 1979 former palace of Prince Asrate Kassa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | (aged 69)
Buried | Gofa St. Gabriel Church, Addis Ababa |
Nationality | Ethiopian |
Abune Theophilos (24 April 1910 – 14 August 1979), also known as Abune Tewophilos, was the second Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He officially succeeded Abuna Basilios in 1971 after he had assumed the role of acting patriarch upon Abuna Basilios's death in 1970.[1][2][3]
Early life
Abune Theophilos was born as Meliktu Jenbere on 24 April 1910 in the Parish of
Career
In 1942, not long after Emperor Haile Selassie returned from exile, Abba Meliktu was made administrating priest with the title of Memher of the Mekane Selassie ("House of the Trinity") Monastery in Addis Ababa. Later, with the completion of the Cathedral at this monastery, he was made Dean of this new Holy Trinity Cathedral with the title of Lique Siltanat ("Arch-hierarch").
Then in 1947, Lique Siltanat Abba Meliktu traveled to Cairo with other high clerics to be made bishops by the
Second Patriarch of Ethiopia
Theophilos presided over a period of administrative reform in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Attempts were made to bring the church into the 20th century by introducing modern educational methods both in the theological schools and in the churches themselves. Theophilos encouraged ecumenical ties with other
In 1974, the
With the disestablishment of the church and the severing of ties between church and state, Theophilos believed that he was entitled to make all decisions concerning the church independent of the authorities, and appointed and consecrated three new bishops without consulting the Derg. These bishops were
Imprisonment
Theophilos was seized at the Patriarchal Palace in the precincts of the Saint of
One afternoon of uncertain date Theophilos managed to escape from the palace disguised as a layman while soldiers guarding the palace were distracted by a broadcast soccer match. Theophilos later told fellow prisoners that he had thought to head to the Greek Embassy, but then decided to make his way to the Asebot monastery in his former diocese of Harrar in the east of the country. He made his way to the Gofa St. Gabriel's Church to hide and prepare for his journey to Asebot, counting on the loyalty of the clergy at this church, but his location was reported to the Derg by someone at the church, and he was taken back into custody.
Theophilos was escorted barefoot to the old Menelik (Grand) Palace and again placed in solitary confinement, chained to his bed, his hands and feet cuffed. Four days later, he was taken to join Ward 1 of the Menelik Palace prison where the highest ranking surviving officials of the Imperial government were being held. Theophilos is believed to have entered into a severe fast (essentially a hunger strike) for 40 days and only broke it on Easter Monday after two imprisoned elder noblemen, Bitwoded Zewde Gebre-Hiwot (former mayor of Addis Ababa and President of the Imperial Senate of Ethiopia) and Dejazmach Haregot Abay (former Crown Councilor and noble and parliamentarian of Eritrea) pleaded with him on their knees.
Theophilos was subjected to numerous indignities while imprisoned. The gold handcross he had been given by the Emperor upon his enthronement was taken from him, along with an icon of the crucifixion that he kept by his bed. He was also ordered to sign papers as "Abba Meliktu" his pre-episcopal name, which he steadfastly refused to do, signing his name always as "Abune Tewophilos". He asked repeatedly that he be imprisoned in a monastery such as
In July 1979, the Derg ordered the immediate execution of several more high officials of the Emperor's government. On 10 July 1979, nobleman and the Emperor's close aide, Tsehafi Taezaz Teferrawork, and former minister Seifu Mahteme Selassie were summoned and removed from the Palace prison and did not return. On 12 July 1979, former ministers Yohannes Kidane Mariam, Abebe Kebede, and Assefa Defaye were similarly taken away. It became obvious to the other prisoners that the men had been executed, and in preparation, many of them approached imprisoned clergy for absolution of their sins.
Finally, on Saturday, 14 August 1979 on the feast day of the Holy Trinity, Dejazmatch Kassa Wolde Mariam and General Samuel were summoned. Dejazmatch Kassa Wolde Mariam, heir to the old Oromo Kingdom of Leqa Qellam, former President of Haile Selassie University, and grandson-in-law to Emperor Haile Selassie, was on his knees before Theophilos receiving his final absolution before going to his death when Theophilos himself was called. He turned and asked Nebre-Id Ermias to absolve him, and he left the prison together with Dejazmatch Kassa.
Death
Theophilos and his fellow prisoners were taken to the former palace of Prince
On 14 August 1979, Theophilos was strangled by an electrical wire and killed. He was buried face-down in a deep trench grave.[7] His remains would later be identified by long black clerical robes and a monk's cap.
Following the fall of the Derg regime, Theophilos' remains were disinterred from the grounds of the former palace of Prince
The state funeral took place on 11 July 1992 and was attended by several thousand people.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "A Brief Biographical Sketch of the Late Patriarch His Holiness Patriarch Abune Theophilos".[dead link]
- ^ Richard Greenfield (1965). "Ethiopia: A New Political History". F. A. Praeger.
In Ethiopia the (Christian) Church and state are one
- ISBN 978-1-57075-155-4.
- ^ "New Patriarch of Ethiopia Is Approved by Emperor". The New York Times. 13 April 1971. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ The Living Church. Morehouse-Gorham Company. 1976. p. 12.
- ^ "Patriarch Is Deposed By Ethiopian Regime". The New York Times. 19 February 1976. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ISBN 9780195382075.
- ^ Marchés tropicaux 17 July 1992, 1913