♱ Armed men linked to Oromo groups attacked the Zequala monastery, 50 kilometers from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where they abducted and subsequently gruesomely killed four monks. This was reported by the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need. "The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has put forward the hypothesis that the Oomo Liberation Army group has a clandestine link with the regional government authorities of Oromia to target members of the Christian Orthodox Church in the region"
In a statement released on Thursday 22 February, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church accused "armed militants", members of the Ola, of storming the monastery on Tuesday 20 February and kidnapping the priests. According to the statement, the Diocese of East Shewa subsequently informed the Church that four priests – Abatekelmariam Asrat, Abba Kidane Mariam Tilahun, Abba Gebremaryam Abebe and Hailemariam Woldesenbet – had been killed after being kidnapped. A monk, Kidanemariam Gebresenbat, survived but was injured in the attack.
This was reported by the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need.
The event happened on February 22nd.
"The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has put forward the hypothesis that the regime-supported Oromo Liberation Army group has a clandestine link with the regional government authorities of Oromia to target members of the Christian Orthodox Church in the region", underlines Acs.
♱ Moscow Patriarchate Offers Condolences to Ethiopia Over Zequalla Abo Monastery Tragedy
In a heartfelt gesture of solidarity, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, extended his condolences to Patriarch Abuna Matthias of Ethiopia. The message conveyed deep sorrow over the brutal murder of the brethren at the ancient Monastery of Zequalla Abo in Oromia region.
The letter, addressed to Patriarch Abuna Matthias, expressed profound grief over the tragic loss suffered by one of the most ancient monasteries of the Ethiopian Church. Metropolitan Anthony emphasized the heinous nature of the crime, underscoring its contradiction to both Divine and human law.
Condolence Letter:
Your Holiness!
I ask you to accept my deepest condolences in connection with the brutal murder of the brethren of one of the most ancient monasteries of the Ethiopian Church, the monastery of St. Abo the Great, that took place in the village of Zukualla.
Each of those who committed this crime, which is contrary to the Divine and human law, must be punished, for, as Holy Scripture testifies, if the wicked is shown mercy, he will not learn righteousness (Isaiah. 26.10).
May Christ, the giver of life, give rest to the souls of those innocently killed in the villages of the righteous and grant a speedy recovery to those who suffered.
With love in the Lord,
Chairman of
the Department for External Church Relations
of the Moscow Patriarchate,
Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk
